NEWS

The high-goal season continues on Sunday with the USPA National 20-Goal Championship at Grand Champions Polo Club.

The second high goal tournament promises to be just as competitive as the season-opening USPA North American Cup won by Flexjet on Friday with a thrilling 11-9 victory over Audi.

The USPA National 20-Goal Championship features nearly the same four teams that competed in the USPA North American Cup.

Melissa Ganzi, after battling pneumonia, returns to the helm of Flexjet. Her son Grant Ganzi and Santos Bollini filled in for her last week in the final and opening round. Bash Kazi of KIG will make his fall debut at Grand Champions sharing playing time with Timmy Dutta on the KIG/Dutta Corp team.

In opening day action on Sunday, Audi plays Casablanca at 10:30am ET and KIG/Dutta Corp plays Flexjet at 3:30pm ET.

The winners advance into Wednesday's championship final at 3:30pm ET. The runners-up will meet in the handicap final at 10:00am ET. The popular Grooms Race will also be held.

The team rosters are:

Audi: (17) Marc Ganzi, 1, Team USPA member Jesse Bray, 5, Carlucho Arellano, 5, Jeff Blake, 6.

Casablanca: (16) Grant Ganzi, 1, Juancito Bollini, 3, Julio Arellano, 8, JJ Celis, 4.

KIG/Dutta Corp: (16) Timmy Dutta/Bash Kazi, A, Kris Kampsen, 6, Guille Aguero, 6, Carlitos Gracida, 4.

Flexjet: (18) Melissa Ganzi, A, Jason Crowder, 6, Nic Roldan, 8, Team USPA member Jared Sheldon, 4.

In last year's USPA National 20-Goal final, Audi (Marc Ganzi, Jeff Blake, Sugar Erskine and Carlucho Arellano) won with an 11-8 win over Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, Jason Crowder, Nic Roldan, Juan Bollini) in front of a large crowd and worldwide ChukkerTV audience.

Erskine, a former 8-goaler who grew up playing polo on his father's sugar cane farm in South Africa, was named MVP. Erskine is currently recuperating from surgery after a serious polo accident and not expected to return to action until the New Year. Erskine, wearing a brace, has been watching polo from the Grand Champions sidelines with the Arellano family.

The regular season fall finale will kick off the biggest week of fall polo at Grand Champions.

A holiday weekend tradition marking the end of the fall season is Saturday's doubleheader, one of the biggest social events of the fall in Wellington. The Carlos Gracida Legends of Polo game at 1:00pm ET will honor the legacy of Gracida, who died tragically in February, 2014 at age 53.

In the second game at 3:00pm ET the fifth annual International Cup will pit Team USA against Uruguay. Team USA is undefeated in International Cup play with wins over England, Chile, Mexico and South Africa.

Grand Champions is the only club in the nation to stage USPA-sanctioned 20-goal tournaments during the fall.

The club has already hosted eight successful medium goal tournaments.

Wellington-based ChukkerTV, leaders in polo broadcasting, is live streaming the entire fall season worldwide.

ChukkerTV's state-of-the art technology also features team challenges and instant replay which made their debut at Grand Champions in January, 2014.

Grand Champions, with eleven well-manicured fields, is enjoying its finest fall season in the ten-year history of the club.

Grand Champions caters to men, women and youth polo players at all levels. Its expert staff can customize a complete playing experience including horses, pros and certified umpires in addition to lessons and practice sessions as part of its' Polo On Demand program, the only polo club in the U.S. to offer the unique program.

The Polo School, a 501c3 organization, is dedicated to teaching polo to all ages, particularly grass roots youth. Its mission is to provide individuals opportunities in polo. The Polo School operates in Wellington January through June and September through November.

GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB

WHERE: 13444 Southfields Road, on the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington, 33414.

DIRECTOR OF POLO: Juan Olivera, 561-644-5050, juan.olivera@gcpolo.com; hotline 561-373-0073.

2016 FALL SCHEDULE

USPA National 20-Goal:
Sunday, Audi vs. Casablanca, 10:30am ET; KIG/Dutta Corp vs. Flexjet, 3:30pm ET
Wednesday, Handicap Final, 10:00am ET.; Championship Final, 3:30pm ET.

Nov. 26, Gates Open 12:30pm ET, Carlos Gracida Memorial Legends of Polo, 1:00pm ET; Fifth annual International Cup, Team USA vs. Uruguay, 3:00pm ET.

INFORMATION: For spectators, there are great field side views for tournament action and also the Grand Champions Polo Club Boutique. The club is home base for pro teams Audi and Flexjet. Everyone is welcome to watch every level of polo in a relaxed atmosphere that includes complimentary food and refreshments during the featured games of the winter, spring and fall tournament seasons and other special events. Admission is free except for some special events.