Tonkawa Remains Undefeated In World Polo League Palm Beach Open; Action Continues Tuesday

WELLINGTON, FL., March 16, 2025---After only two games, undefeated Tonkawa looks like the team to beat in the World Polo League's Palm Beach Open.

By Sharon Robb

Photos by Candace Ferreira

Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, 0, Mackie Weisz, 6, Pablo MacDonough, 10, Juan Martin Nero, 10) improved to 2-0 with an impressive 12-9 victory over Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, 3, Hilario Figueras, 6, Rufino Bensadon, 8, Sapo Caset, 9) Saturday at Tonkawa's field.

Tonkawa's tournament-opening win was a 10-9 overtime victory over Travieso. Already with two WPL tournament wins under its belt, Casablanca was unable to hit its shots in the final two chukkers to rally and dropped to 0-1.

Palm Beach Open action continues Tuesday when Travieso (0-1) (Tony Calle, 3, Pipe Vercellino, 7, Juan Martin Zubia, 9, Fred Mannix, 7) attempts to rebound against Maltese Falcons (0-0) (Melissa Ganzi, Nic Roldan, 7, Gonzalito Pieres 8, Santi Toccalino, 7) at 3 p.m. Calle, who bruised a bone in his right hand and left the game in the fourth chukker, is expected to return to Travieso's starting lineup.

In Saturday's game, the lead changed hands four times in the first half. Casablanca jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead with Ganzi scoring off the throw-in and Caset scoring in the first two minutes of play. Nero and Hildebrand scored back-to-back goals to tie, 2-2. Caset scored again with 1:42 left to give Casablanca back the lead, 3-2, after the first chukker.

Tonkawa came up with a big second chukker, outscoring Casablanca, 3-1, taking advantage of two penalty 5A big hit passes close to goal. With 5:15 left, Nero off a 5A penalty connected with MacDonough for a goal to tie the game, 3-3. After Casablanca lost its challenge of a shading call, Nero stole the ball and scored for a 4-3 advantage with 3:41. left. On another big 5A penalty hit, Nero connected with Weisz who scored for a 5-3 lead. With 22 seconds left, Casablanca was awarded a penalty one after Caset was obstructed near the goal mouth to trail 5-4.

Tonkawa outscored Casablanca again, 2-1, in the third chukker to take a 7-5 lead at the half. Weisz converted back-to-back 30-yard penalties for a 7-4 lead and Bensadon scored with 18 seconds left.

Casablanca flirted with gaining control in the fourth chukker when Caset scored after a long run and Ganzi hit Bensadon on a long pass to tie the game at 7-7. But it was the closest Casablanca would get. Tonkawa scored three unanswered goals late in the fourth and fifth chukkers to take a 10-7 lead, its first three-goal lead of the game.

Casablanca could not get its offensive threat back on track as Tonkawa controlled the remainder of the game. In the final chukker, Nero took a long pass from Weisz to score and Weisz followed with a goal on a breakaway for a 12-8 lead. Caset found Ganzi open for a near side goal for the final goal.

Casablanca outshot Tonkawa, 19-18, but couldn't capitalize. Tonkawa led in knock-ins, 11-6, and throw-ins, 12-8. In a relatively clean game, Casablanca committed five fouls to Tonkawa's two.

Mackie Weisz led Tonkawa with a game-high five goals. Pablo MacDonough and Juan Martin Nero each had three goals and Jeff Hildebrand added one.

For Casablanca, Sapo Caset had a team-high four goals. Grant Ganzi and Rufino Bensadon each had two goals. Casablanca was also awarded a penalty one.

Four teams are competing in the Palm Beach Open. Every team plays each other with the two best records advancing to the final.

The WPL, the winter season's biggest highlight, continues to make history as the only 26-goal polo played outside of Argentina. The WPL made its debut in 2018 to keep 26-goal polo alive and thriving. In September 2017, the USPA announced that 22 goals would be the maximum level of polo played beginning in 2019 with the C.V. Whitney Cup, USPA Gold Cup and U.S. Open.

The 26-goal World Polo League kicked off its seventh season on Feb. 16th making history with a first-of-its kind matchup. Casablanca captured the first-ever WPL 32-Goal All-Star Challenge Riemenschneider Memorial.

In front of a packed house, Casablanca (Sapo Caset, 9, Grant Ganzi, 3, Tommy Panelo, 10, Juan Martin Nero, 10) led from start to finish to defeat Santa Rita (Nic Roldan, 7, Tomacho Pieres, 6, Pablo MacDonough, 10, Juan Martin Zubia, 9), 8-5. Caset led Casablanca with a game-high five goals and was named MVP.

Casablanca made it two in a row capturing the Founders Cup with a hardfought 14-12 win over Alegria (Jason Crowder, 5, Fred Mannix, 7, Nic Roldan, 7, Tommy Collingwood, 5). Caset earned his second MVP award.

The final WPL tournament is the highly-coveted March 26-April 12 Triple Crown of Polo.

In last year's Palm Beach Open, Casablanca defended its title. Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, 3, Hilario Figueras, 6, Rufino Bensadon, 8, Sapo Caset, 9) broke open a close game in the fifth chukker to defeat Travieso (Tony Calle, 3, Tomacho Pieres, 6, Pipe Vercellino, 7, Juan Martin Nero, 10), 11-8. Caset was MVP.

During the winter polo season, Grand Champions Polo Club, the nation's largest and most innovative USPA-sanctioned polo club nestled in the heart of the world's winter equestrian capital, hosts a wide range of tournaments: 6, 8, 12, 16, 20, 22 and 26-goal  World Polo League, The Polo School Women's Weekly Polo League, WCT Finals, several Polo Training Foundation junior tournaments, World Polo League Pride and Sunset Chukkers & Cocktails at both Grand Champions and Santa Rita Polo Farm.

Grand Champions and Santa Rita Polo Farm is the largest and most unique private 102-acre polo facility in Wellington with 212 stalls in nine self-contained barns, two tracks, five climate-controlled tack rooms, vet room, staff quarters, guest house and four polo fields with state-of-the-art underground irrigation and short work arena. The club has 10 well-manicured world-class fields at GCPC and Santa Rita.

Grand Champions Polo Club 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 Polo School, now located at the former Pony Express facility, operates in Wellington January through May and September through November. The stand-alone USPA-sanctioned polo club is dedicated to teaching polo to all ages.

For more information on leagues or The Polo School contact Juan Bollini at 561-346-1099 or Cale Newman at 561-876-2930.