Raul ‘Gringo’ Colombres brings a 7-goal handicap to Clearwater, where he plays second fiddle to 9-goaler Francisco Elizalde — but second fiddle at this level still means being one of the best players on the field. A 9-and-7 professional pairing gives Clearwater one of the strongest top-end combinations in the U.S. Open draw.
The nickname ‘Gringo’ — unusual for an Argentine polo player — adds color to a player whose on-field role is anything but casual. Colombres is expected to complement Elizalde’s attacks, create secondary scoring chances, and provide defensive stability through the chukkers. At Clearwater, he plays alongside Nico Escobar, Santino Magrini, and the Campbell father-son duo.
When Elizalde draws the double-team, Colombres is the player who punishes the space left behind.