Great polo: the best start to the women’s tourney...

Wellington Forum  April 12, 2006

By Liz Petruzzi

Opening day of the Women’s Championship Tournament Finals feels like a celebration.  It is. More than one year’s hard work comes to fruition this day as two teams, comprised of four women each, take the field.

Teams Audi and Catena compete in the first match of the inaugural tournament.  Melissa Ganzi, Alina Carta, Vicki Armour and Sylvia Firestone make up team Audi, while Debbie Nash, Lesley Masterton Fong-Yee, Angela York and Phoebe Ingram fill Cantena’s roster.

For to-ranked polo player, Sunny Hale, this day represents a dream realized.  Hale envisioned a tournament that would allow top women polo players in the world to compete.

Eight-goal polo legend and WCT spectator Hector Galindo said, “It’s great to see so many women playing this top level.” When asked if he was surprised at how good they are, he responded with a grin. “I’ve played against a bunch of them – I know how good they are,” he said.

Tim Sparks, owner of Panera Bread in Wellington and WCT sponsor, said, “Wellington has been good to us and I love this – it’s a great opportunity to get involved and help out!”  Sparks sponsored a team and fed the crowd with delicious fare from his restaurant.

The family of Audi player Alina Carta watched from the sidelines.  Carta started playing polo in the Dominican Republic at age 11.  Her sister, Maite Carta, said, “This is one of the few showcases for women’s polo and it’s great fun!”

No Tournament is without drams, and this one had its share with last-minute changes to Hale’s Panera Bread team.  The day before,  team member Dawn Jones was replaced with Jolie Liston after Jones broke her arm playing for San Saba in the U.S. Open. “It’s a bummer,” Hale said. “But Liston will be great.”

Coincidentally, Jones was subbing for husband Tommy Lee Jones, who was unable to play because of injury.

On opening day, things got fast and furious between Audi and Catena.  One spectator shouted “Who needs the Super Bowl?” as teams charged down the field.

The women’s quotient was forgotten; this was great polo.

The fourth chukker found the score tied 6-6 with referees sporting pink penalty flags in lieu of re.  Leslie Masterton Fon-Yee scored for Catena, putting them ahead by one in this six chukker match.

The horses pounded down the field as players fought for victory.  Belly shots, bumps and hooks, fouls and throw-ins. Neither team would give up the win.

 In the sixth chukker, Vicki Armour scored the ninth goal for Audi and Debbie Nash the ninth for Catena.  The match went into sudden death overtime – when the first goal scored wins the match.  Sweat glistened and gleamed on horse’s necks and muscles tensed and sides heaved.  This is a fight to the death. A spectator shouted: “This is better than the Open!”.

 Three fouls, a knock-in and a free hit later, Audi scored to win, narrowly avoiding an unbelievable eighth chukker. Leslie Masterton Fong-Yee scored 6 of 9 goals for Catena.

 “This is great polo – what a way to start the tournament.” Reported announcer Jeff Heatley.