Mon 9th Apr 2018US Open Polo ChampionshipThe pinnacle of the USA high goal series gets underway
Play in the most prestigious tournament in the USA high goal calendar isunderway at the International Polo Club, in Wellington, Florida. Six 26 goal teams have entered this year’s competition, with some of the world’s most well-known polo faces set to grace the hallowed IPC turf. On Wednesday 4 April, Colorado were defeated by Daily Racing Form, 13-11, to set the tournament off, swiftly followed the next day by a 13-7 win for Marc Ganzi’s Audi, against U.S Polo Assn. Thursday also marked the comeback of Juan Martín Nero, who took to the field for U.S Polo Assn, having last appeared in the US Open’s 2016 Final for Orchard Hill. In the third qualifying match on Saturday 7 April, it was Melissa Ganzi’s Flexjet’s turn to take home the glory with a 9-4 win against rivals Colorado. Valiente made their tournament debut with a 9-6 win against U.S Polo Assn yesterday, Sunday 8 April, a match that also marked the first-time teammates Facundo Pieres and Adolfo Cambiaso have come together in this tournament. The qualifying stages continue until Wednesday 11 April with matches between Daily Racing Form vs Flexjet and Audi vs Valiente, following which the Quarter Finals will take place on Sunday 15 April. The Semi Finals will take place on Wednesday 18 April, with the all-important US Open Final on Sunday 22 April. Polo Times will be publishing a full report from the US Open in the May issue, so make sure you subscribe here now for all the news from Florida. The US Open Polo Championship Teams: Audi (26): Marc Ganzi (2), Mike Azzaro (6), Polito Pieres (10) & Nic Roldan (8) Colorado (25): Robert Jornayvaz (1), Juan Britos (7), Christian ‘Magoo’ Laprida (8) & Diego Cavanagh (9) Daily Racing Form (26): Jared Zenni (5), Agustin Obregon (5), Hilario Ulloa (10) & Mariano Obregon (6) U.S Polo Assn (24): Grant Ganzi (2), Juancito Bollini (4), Juan Martín Nero (10) & Alejandro Novillo Astrada (8) Valiente (26): Bob Jornayvaz (2), Tommy Beresford (4), Facundo Pieres (10) & Adolfo Cambiaso (10) Flexjet (26): Melissa Ganzi (0), Rodrigo de Andrade (9), Gonzalito Pieres (9) & Nico Pieres (8) Photograph: Valiente made their US Open Polo Championship debut on Sunday 8 April, defeating U.S Polo Assn. Courtesy of the International Polo Club |