Mountain Chevrolet Wins Dee Jensen Memorial, Nic Roldan MVP; Audi Wins Mount Sopris Cup; Jason Crowder MVP
CARBONDALE, Colo., August 11, 2025---Audi won its second tournament of the summer polo season Sunday at Aspen Vallley Polo Club.
By Sharon Robb
Audi (Jason Crowder, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini) broke open a close game in the fifth chukker to defeat Los Amigos (Alejandra Foster, Sugar Erskine, Tomacho Pieres, Nacho Novillo Astrada), 9-6.
Jason Crowder was named Most Valuable Player for the second time this season.
Ensenada Gilda, a 7-year-old bay mare, played by Nacho Novillo Astrada, and bred (Open Chimento/Cuartetera 04) and owned by Wellington-based Santa Rita Polo Farm, was AVPC Best Playing Pony.
Dolfina Maraca, a 6-year-old bay mare played by Alejandro Novillo Astrada and owned by Santa Rita Polo Farm, was American Polo Horse Association Best Playing Pony.
Much like their game in Friday's qualifier that ended in a 4-4 tie, the game started off as a defensive standoff between the teams in the 1-1 opening chukker.
Only one goal was scored in the second chukker with Audi taking a 2-1 lead into the third chukker. Pieres scored to give Los Amigos a 2-2 tie with 3:30 left in the third chukker and with eight seconds left, Pieres scored again for a 3-2 halftime advantage.
In the fourth chukker, Audi scored back-to-back goals for a 4-3 lead with 4:21 left. Erskine nailed a 120-yard goal for a 4-4 tie but three minutes later Astrada scored on a great tap-in, taking the ball on the off side and scoring on the near side.
The lead changed hands eight times in the game before Audi took a 6-5 lead after Astrada's goal off the post with 3:22 left in the fifth chukker. Audi never trailed after that. Audi outscored Los Amigos, 7-3, in the second half.
For Audi, Alejandro Novillo Astrada had three goals and Crowder added two. Foster and Pieres each had two goals and Erskine and Nacho Novillo Astrada each had one goal for Los Amigos. Foster was awarded the Goal of the Tournament.
In Friday's qualifier, Audi defeated Mountain Chevrolet, 5-4; Los Amigos topped Mountain Chevrolet, 7-6; and Audi and Los Amigos tied, 4-4.
DEE JENSEN MEMORIAL
In an emotionally-charged game, Mountain Chevrolet (Michael Payne, Hilario Figueras, Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan) edged The Setai (Paul Foster, Santos Bollini, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Santi Toccalino), 7-6, won the inaugural tournament in honor of Dee Jensen. The wife of longtime chiropractor Dr. Dave Jensen died after a battle with cancer for more than a decade. A moment of silence was held before the game. Jensen and his daughter Lexi were awards presenters.
"Obviously, we love polo and all the people in polo," Dr. Dave said after the awards ceremony. "I think Dee's favorite was the polo ponies. She loved to come here and celebrate all of this year after year. It means a lot you are doing all of this for us. Everybody spectating, the Ganzi Family and rest of the crew, you all mean a lot to us. I know Dee is here and she loves it."
The lead changed hands only three times. The Setai was shut out in three chukkers and Mountain Chevrolet was held scoreless in two chukkers.
Mountain Chevrolet took a 5-4 lead on Roldan's goal with 1:06 left in the fourth chukker and never trailed after that, extending its lead to 7-4 before The Setai clawed its way back late in the game.
Roldan was Most Valuable Player. Foxy, owned and played by Paul Foster was the AVPC Best Playing Pony.
Mountain Chevrolet got balanced scoring from its lineup. Roldan had three goals, Ganzi had two and Figueras and Payne each had one. For The Setai, Foster and Bollini each had two goals and Astrada and Toccalino each had one goal.
Alejandro Novillo Astrada was the Ironman of the day playing back-to-back games.
In the club's other polo action:
In Tuesday night's Twilight Series before the exclusive Drone Show, The Setai (Daren Tamplin, Grant Ganzi, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini) defeated Santa Rita (Jen Buchan, Sugar Erskine, Tomacho Pieres, Jason Crowder), 8-7. Astrada scored a game-high four goals and Tamplin added three. Pieres and Buchan each had three for The Setai.
On Saturday in Kidz Polo, Polo School Blue (Silver Novillo Astrada, Lolo Novillo Astrada, Benja Toccalino, Isidro Novillo Astrada) edged World Polo League Yellow (Cande Toccalino, Lupe Pieres, Mia Pieres, Tomacho Pieres), 2-1.
In the Saturday League Game, Mountain Chevrolet (Michelle Payne, Miles Rich, Sugar Erskine, Tomacho Pieres) defeated Los Amigos (Paul Foster, Alejandra Foster, Juan Bollini, Alejandro Novillo Astrada), 8-7. The Fosters combined for seven goals with Paul Foster scoring four. Payne and Rich each had three goals for Mountain Chevrolet.
Among this season's highlights are the new "Polo Is Beautiful" Beach Club on Sundays; weekly Twilight Polo Nights and Drone Show featuring Tuesday Night Arena and Twilight Polo, an exclusive series through August 26; and Aug. 17th Summer Polo Charity Classic to benefit Aspen Valley Health Foundation.
The "Polo Is Beautiful" Beach Club is open every Sunday during the summer season from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. VIP Beach Club tickets are available at aspenvalleypoloclub.com. Ticket holders are treated to handcrafted cocktails, traditional Argentine asado with a variety of meats including steak and sausages and always entertaining live DJ music. The Beach Club showcases lounge spaces furnished by Arhaus on beach sand and also Cold Plunge pools by Crystal River Spas, beach chairs and umbrellas with great fieldside views. Tickets are available.
Other highlights are the Aug. 21-24 Triple Crown of Polo-Aspen and Silver Queen Invitational doubleheader and August 26 Aspen Arena Series Final.
The remaining summer tournaments are this week's August 7-17 Rocky Mountain Open, August 14-17 Carbondale Classic and Aug. 28-31 season-finale Maroon Bells Cup.
The club's 12th season kicked off the July Fourth weekend. To open the 2025 season, Wellington-based 3 Graces Polo, making its Aspen debut, won both the Independence Cup (Rebecca Cohen, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Nic Roldan, Juan Bollini) and ChukkerTV Cup (Rebecca Cohen, Nic Roldan, Alejandro Novillo Astrada). McClure River Ranch (Roberto Poma/Ale Poma, Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Hilario Figueras) won the Craig Sakin Memorial. Mountain Chevrolet (Michael Payne, Sugar Erskine, Nic Roldan, Grant Ganzi) won the Basalt Handicap. Audi (Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Juan Bollini) won the Emma Challenge with an 11-10 overtime victory over defending champion Los Amigos Red (Alejandra Foster, Melissa Ganzi, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Nacho Novillo Astrada). The Setai (Silver Novillo Astrada, Jason Crowder, Nic Roldan, Alejandro Novillo Astrada) won the High Alpine Cup.
With a vision for the community and surrounding areas, the Ganzi family resurrected the club and polo in 2014. Since then polo has increased in popularity in Aspen and surrounding cities with the club's offerings of various weekly grass and arena tournaments, Arena & Asado Nights, Kidz Polo, "Polo Is Beautiful" Beach Club, Twilight Polo Series and Drone Show, Kidz Wheelie Polo, Gymkhana, Christmas In July, The Polo School at AVPC and Polo On Demand.
Aspen Valley 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.
For more information on leagues or Polo School contact Polo School Director Juan Bollini at 561-346-1099.
