Polo News

Iglehart Cup Opens With Two Games On Friday, February 28, 2014
By Alex Webb

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 was the key figure in relocating the Gulfstream Polo Club in Lake Worth, FL when development forced the club from its former oceanside location in Briney Breezes, FL.

Friday’s opening games in the 2014 Iglehart Cup will feature CT Energia (Alessandro Bazzoni, Kris Kampsen, Joao Ganon and Nick Manifold) facing Palm Beach Illustrated (Jared Zenni, Guille Aguero, Marianito Obregon and Carlucho Arellano) in a 1pm contest followed by a 3pm game between Los Machitos/Heathcote (Steve Lefkowitz, Sterling Giannico, Matias Magrini and Hilario Ulloa) and Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, Lucas Lalor, Nic Roldan and Jeff Hall).

Both Palm Beach Illustrated has shown great promise in earlier 20-goal competition, displaying the veteran leadership of two-time US Open winner Magoo Laprida and three talented up-and-coming players in Jared Zenni, Tommy Collingwood and Facundo Obregon. CT Energia has introduced Brazilian 7-goaler Joao Ganon to the local polo fans and he’s made quite a splash. The tall South American has shown to be a great scoring talent and a future regular at the International Polo club. Local favorite Kris Kampsen and 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-old Grant Ganzi is believed to be the youngest team captain and player-patron to lead a 20-goal team onto the field in high goal play at the International Polo Club. The St. Andrew’s sophomore has already been seasoned at the 20-goal level in the USPA National 20-goal and the USPA North American Cup last fall, and played on the winning Audi team in the finals of the George Haas Cup, the Ylvisaker Cup subsidiary.

Los Machitos/Heathcote is expected to take the field without the aid of 9-goaler Mariano Aguerre who has been sidelined with an elbow injury. Matias Magrini has ably filled in for him during his absence, but they will be dutifully tried in their match with Casablanca.
Two more teams fill out the six-team field with Faraway (Hutton Goodman, Santiago Chavanne, Martin Pepa and Mariano Gonzalez) and Villa Del Lago (Jim Zenni, Agustin Obregon, Polito Pieres and Inaki Laprida) receiving first round byes.

On Wednesday, March 5th at 1pm Villa Del Lago will face the winner of the CT Energia vs. Palm Beach Illustrated match with Faraway meeting the winner of the Casablanca-Los Machitos/Heathcote tilt at 3pm.

The final of the 2014 Iglehart Cup has been scheduled to be played at 1pm on Saturday, March 8th.