Following a hard fought game, Tonkawa beat Travieso 13-12 and won The Palm Beach Open, the third tournament of the World Polo League, for teams up to 26 goals. The final took place at Grand Champions Polo Club, in Wellington, Florida, United States, on Sunday March 30. Therefore, Casablanca was unable to capture their third WPL cup after previously won the Founders Cup and the All Star Challenge; it is also the first WPL title for Jeff Hildebrand’s foursome.
Tonkawa and Travieso earned their spots in the final after defeating Maltese Falcons and Casablanca, respectively, in semifinals.
Travieso seized the reins from the very start, but in the fifth chukka, Tonkawa took a 11-8 lead. However, Travieso bounced back, and outscored their contenders 3-1, to tie at 12-all in regulation time, and forced an extra chukka. It was Mackenzie Weisz who produced a spectacular goal from 80 yards, to secure Tonkawa their first WPL title.
THE PALM BEACH OPEN – FINAL – SUNDAY MARCH 29
TONKAWA 13-12 TRAVIESO (extra chukka)
-Tonkawa: Jeff Hildebrand (0), Mackenzie Weisz (6, 9 goals), Pablo Mac Donough (10 1 goal), Juan Martín Nero (10, 1 goal). Total: 26
-Travieso: Tony Calle (3, 3 goals), Pipe Vercellino (7, 6 goals), Fred Mannix (7, 1 goal), Juan Martín Zubía (9, 3 goals). Total: 26.
Score Tonkawa: 2-1, 4-6, 6-7, 8-8, 11-9, 12-12, 13-12.
Umpires: Esteban Ferrari & José Ignacio Araya.
Third Man: Gastón Dorignac.
MVP: Juan Martín Nero.
BPP: Rocío, ridden by Jeff Hildebrand.
American Polo Horse Assn. BPP: Gilda, ridden by Juan Martín Nero.
The last competition of the World Polo League is the Triple Crown of Polo.
THE PALM BEACH OPEN – TEAMS
Casablanca (26): Grant Ganzi (3), Rufino Bensadón (8), Guillermo Caset (9), Hilario Figueras (6).
Tonkawa (26): Jeff Hildebrand (0), Mackenzie Weisz (6), Pablo Mac Donough (10), Juan Martín Nero (10).
Maltese Falcons (22): Melissa Ganzi (0), Nic Roldán (7), Gonzalo Pieres (8), Santiago Toccalino (7).
Travieso (26): Tony Calle (3), Pipe Vercellino (7), Fred Mannix (7), Juan Martín Zubía (9).