Iglehart Cup openswith two games on Friday
By Alex Webbe
The Iglehart Cup is played in honor of Phillip Iglehart.Phillip was a seven-goal player and played on numerous championship polo teams.He was instrumental in founding the Polo Museum and Hall of Fame. Phillip wasthe key figure in relocating the Gulfstream Polo Club in Lake Worth, FL whendevelopment forced the club from its former oceanside location in Briney Breezes,FL.
Friday’s opening games inthe 2014 Iglehart Cup will feature CT Energia (Alessandro Bazzoni, KrisKampsen, Joao Ganon and Nick Manifold) facing Palm Beach Illustrated (JaredZenni, Guille Aguero, Marianito Obregon and Carlucho Arellano) in a 1pm contestfollowed by a 3pm game between Los Machitos/Heathcote (Steve Lefkowitz, SterlingGiannico, Matias Magrini and Hilario Ulloa) and Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, LucasLalor, Nic Roldan and Jeff Hall).
Both Palm BeachIllustrated has shown great promise in earlier 20-goal competition, displayingthe veteran leadership of two-time US Open winner Magoo Laprida and threetalented up-and-coming players in Jared Zenni, Tommy Collingwood and FacundoObregon. CT Energia has introducedBrazilian 7-goaler Joao Ganon to the local polo fans and he’s made quite asplash. The tall South American hasshown to be a great scoring talent and a future regular at the InternationalPolo club. Local favorite Kris Kampsenand Nick Manifold round out a roster that has so far under-produced this year,but have the talent to turn the season around at any time.
Casablanca’s fifteen-year-oldGrant Ganzi is believed to be the youngest team captain and player-patron tolead a 20-goal team onto the field in high goal play at the International PoloClub. The St. Andrew’s sophomore hasalready been seasoned at the 20-goal level in the USPA National 20-goal and theUSPA North American Cup last fall, and played on the winning Audi team in thefinals of the George Haas Cup, the Ylvisaker Cup subsidiary.
Los Machitos/Heathcote isexpected to take the field without the aid of 9-goaler Mariano Aguerre who hasbeen sidelined with an elbow injury. Matias Magrini has ably filled in for him during his absence, but theywill be dutifully tried in their match with Casablanca.
Two more teams fill outthe six-team field with Faraway (Hutton Goodman, Santiago Chavanne, Martin Pepaand Mariano Gonzalez) and Villa Del Lago (Jim Zenni, Agustin Obregon, PolitoPieres and Inaki Laprida) receiving first round byes.
On Wednesday, March 5that 1pm Villa Del Lago will face the winner of the CT Energia vs. Palm BeachIllustrated match with Faraway meeting the winner of the Casablanca-LosMachitos/Heathcote tilt at 3pm.
The final of the 2014Iglehart Cup has been scheduled to be played at 1pm on Saturday, March 8th.