WELLINGTON, FL-April 20, 2014---Casablanca, led by balanced second-half scoring, defeated Goose Creek, 16-8, to win the USPA President's Cup 8-Goal Tournament Saturday at Grand Champions at Palm Beach Polo Club.Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, 0, Juancito Bollini, 1, Wes Finlayson, 2, Juan Bollini, 5), trailing 7-6 at the half, roared back in the second half to break open a close game.
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| Wes Finlayson of Casablanca reaches for the ball and avoids the hook of Brad Blake of Goose Creek. Photo by Scott Fisher |
Goose Creek (Collin McCosh, 3, Maureen Brennan, 1, Michael Bellissimo, 0, Brad Blake, 4) never led in the second half which Casablanca dominated with its teamwork and chemistry.
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| Most Valuable Player Juan Bollini of Casablanca. Photo By Scott Fisher |
Veteran player Juan Bollini, a former 8-goaler, was named Most Valuable Player. The big-hitting playmaker competed alongside his oldest son Juancito. Father and son combined to score nine goals. Wes Finlayson added four goals.For Goose Creek, Collin McCosh had five goals and Brennan added three. Brennan's third chukker mare also won Best Playing Pony.
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| Collin McCosh of Goose Creek tries to back the ball out of a crowd. Photo by Scott Fisher |
It was a great week for Casablanca, one of the sport's top sponsors.Casablanca also won two major junior Polo Training Foundation tournaments, the Jimmer Newman and George Oliver Memorial Tournaments, earlier in the week at International Polo Club.During the 10-day USPA President's Cup tournament, Goose Creek defeated Palm Beach Polo 10-9, in overtime; Casablanca defeated Palm Beach Polo, 11-9; and Casablanca defeated Goose Creek, 17-7.
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| Winning Casablanca team Juan Bollini, Wes Finlayson, Juancito Bollini and Grant Ganzi. Photo by Scott Fisher |
It was the first time Grand Champions hosted the USPA President's Cup which has been played since 1969 throughout the country, the last eight years in Florida.In the USPA Board of Governors Cup Round Robin held before the President's Cup, Team Black won with Chuck Stanislowski, Ursula LiPari, Jake Flournoy and Chip Campbell. Flournoy won Most Valuable Player honors.
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| USPA President's Cup championship final teams, Casablanca's Juan Bollini, Wes Finlayson, Juancito Bollini and Grant Ganzi and Goose Creek's Brad Blake, Michael Bellissimo, Maureen Brennan, Collin McCosh. Photo by Scott Fisher |
In another Grand Champions at Palm Beach Polo championship tournament final, Pony Express (Bob Daniels, 0, Justin Daniels, 0, Benji Daniels, 1, Tomas Goti, 6) defeated Ganaraska (Ian Angus, 0, Marcos Onetto, 4, Jonny Lavine, Tom McGuiness, 0), 9-8, to win the Las Acacias 5-Goal Tournament.For game recaps, news, features and photos of Grand Champions Polo Club-related events, go to
www.grandchampionspoloclub.org.
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| Juancito Bollini of Casablanca outraces Brad Blake of Goose Creek. Photo by Scott Fisher |
GRAND CHAMPIONS 2014 SPRING SCHEDULE (561-644-5050)APRIL 25-27: The USPA Spring ChallengeMAY 1-4: The USPA Sun CupMAY 8-11: The USPA Eastern ChallengeMAY 15-18: The Polo Gear Challenge CupMAY 22-26: The Memorial
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| Grand Champions Polo Club's trophy table for the USPA President's Cup. Photo by Scott Fisher |
GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUBWHERE: 13444 Southfields Road, on the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington, 33414.INFORMATION: There are great field side views for tournament action at the home base of pro teams Audi and Flight Options. Everyone is welcome to watch high, medium and low goal polo in a relaxed atmosphere during the winter, spring and fall tournament season and other special events including International Cup in November, Buzz Welker Memorial Junior Tournament in March, ProKidz Tournaments in the spring and fall, Women's Championship Tournament and Gay Polo League International Tournament, both in April.
