The Dutta Corp. (Timmy Dutta, Marc Ganzi, Lucas Diaz Alberdi and Kris Kampsen) received one goal by handicap from the 12-goal Flexjet lineup (Melissa Ganzi, Tim Dutta, Juan Bollini and Tom de Bruin) but didn’t seem to need the help as they galloped out to a 6-2 halftime lead on their way to a 10-7 win for the Memorial Cup. The final took place on Sunday afternoon at the International Polo Club.
In a subdued opening chukker Melissa Ganzi scored the only goal of the period on a 30-yard penalty shot while Dutta Corp. was held scoreless. The score was tied, 1-1, due to the one goal handicap awarded to Dutta Corp.
Marc Ganzi scored the first goal of the second chukker in the opening minute of play as Dutta Corp. took the lead, 2-1. The two teams carried the ball up and down the field for the better part of the chukker before Kris Kampsen sent the ball between the Flexjet goalposts to extend the lead to 3-1. Flexjet was unable to score and trailed by two goals.
Fourteen-year-old Timmy Dutta got busy in the third chukker. He scored the first goal of the period from the opening throw in and added another less than a minute later as Dutta Corp. stretched their lead to four goals, 5-1. Flexjet finally got on the scoreboard again on a goal from the field from South African 7-goaler Tom de Bruin, 5-2. Kampsen closed out the chukker with his second goal of the day, giving Dutta Corp. a four goal advantage at the end of the first half, 6-2.
Marc Ganzi made it 7-2 with a goal in the opening 30 seconds of the fourth period and a goal from Lucas Diaz Alberdi extended that lead to six goals, 8-2. A second goal from de Bruin came with three minutes on the clock as Dutta Corp. enjoyed an 8-3, five goal lead after four periods of play.
Flexjet picked up a pair of goals from de Bruin in the fifth (one on a 40-yard penalty conversion in the final minute of play). Dutta Corp stayed alive with Marc Ganzi scoring in the final two minutes. Flexjet shaved a goal off the lead but continued to trail 9-5.
Juan Bollini scored the first goal of the sixth chukker after nearly two and-a-half minutes of play, 9-6, but a rally wasn’t coming. Dutta scored his third goal of the match with 2:23 on the clock and Bollini was credited with the final goal of the game in a 10-7 Dutta Corp. victory.
Marc Ganzi and Dutta led the Dutta Corp. team with three goals apiece. Kampsen scored twice and earned MVP honors with Alberdi adding a gal for the win. The Flexjet attack was led by de Bruin ‘s four goals. Bollini added two goals and Melissa Ganzi scored once in a losing effort.
Belgrano, an 8-year-old gray gelding, was named Best Playing Pony. Belgrano is owned by Halo Polo and played by Marc Ganzi.
Grand Champions 12, Postage Stamp Farm 9
In a game that saw three late lead changes, Grand Champions (Gene Goldstein, Juancito Bollini, Lucas Lalor and JJ Celis) recorded a 12-9 win over Postage Stamp Farm (Annabelle Gundlach, Grant Ganzi, Brandon Phillips and Jason Crowder) for the Grand Champions Cup in a subsidiary of The Memorial.
Postage Stamp Farm received one gal by handicap and added two more goals to it for the early 3-2 lead. J.J. Celis opened the scoring in the first chukker for Grand Champions, 1-0, followed by single goals from Grant Ganzi and Annabelle Gundlach (3-1). Lucas Lalor scored the final goal of the period but it was Postage Stamp Farm with the 3-2 advantage after the first chukker.
Gundlach added two more goals in the second, as Postage Stamp Farm moved in front by three goals, 5-2. Lalor scored for Grand Champions but Brandon Phillips was credited with the final goal of the chukker, giving Postage Stamp Farm the three goal lead, 6-3.
Juancito Bollini led the Grand Champions attack in the third, scoring consecutive goals that had them within a goal of the lead, 6-5. Gene Goldstein converted a 30-yard penalty shot that tied the game at 6-6, and added a goal from the field that closed out the first half with Grand Champions on top, 7-6.
Jason Crowder came alive for Postage Stamp Farm as the second half got underway scoring consecutive goals that gave his team the 8-7 lead. Grant Ganzi’s first goal of the game closed out the chukker with Postage Stamp Farm enjoying a two goal edge, 9-7.
Grand Champions controlled the fifth period with Goldstein, Bollini and Lalor scoring while holding Postage Stamp Farm without a goal. After five chukkers the narrow lead belonged to Grand Champions, 10-9.
Bollini’s fourth goal of the game had Grand Champions up by two goals, 11-9, as Postage Stamp Farm was unable to mount an effective attack. Goldstein shut the door on Postage Stamp Farm with a 60-yard penalty conversion that gave them the game and the cup in a 12-9 win.
Bollini and Goldstein lead the field with four goals apiece. Goldstein received MVP honors for his efforts. Lalor scored three times and Celis added a goal for the victory. Gundlach’s three goals let the Postage Stamp Farm offense. Ganzi and Crowder each scored twice with Phillips adding a goal in the loss.
The 2016 Spring Season at the Grand Champions Polo Club will conclude with a 10am Monday morning Memorial Kidz Polo Tournament on the Number 1 field at the Grand Champions Polo Club.
By Alex Webbe
(Photo courtesy of ChukkerTV)
http://polonews.com/2016/05/the-dutta-corp-wins-the-memorial-cup-10-7/