8-goaler Nico Pieres.
WELLINGTON, FL – March 5, 2013 — With the C. V. Whitney Cup in the books, the second 26 high-goal tournament gets under way Thursday with three games in the USPA Piaget Gold Cup.
Grand Champions Polo Club-based pro teams Audi and Piaget are among favorites in the 11-team tournament, the second jewel of America’s Triple Crown of polo.
It is the sixth consecutive year, Piaget, the luxury Swiss watchmaker, will sponsor the tournament at International Polo Club Palm Beach.
There are three brackets of play with all eight of the world’s 10-goal players competing.
Audi opens play on Thursday against new team Zorzal at 2 p.m.
Audi features 10-goaler Gonzalito Pieres, 8-goaler Nico Pieres, 7-goaler Jeff Hall, one of the highest ranked U.S. players, and team captain Marc Ganzi, rated at one goal.
Zorzal, one of two new teams in the tournament, has 6-goaler Fred Mannix, 6-goaler Jason Crowder, 7-goaler Marianito Obregon and 7-goaler Mariano Gonzalez.
Audi’s tournament bracket includes Coca-Cola and Mt. Brilliant.
Other Thursday games are Valiente vs. Mt. Brilliant at 10 a.m. and Zacara vs. Coca-Cola at 4 p.m.
Piaget opens play on Saturday at 2 p.m. against Lechuza Caracas.
Piaget, one of only two teams with two 10-goalers, features 10-goalers Miguel Astrada and Sapo Caset, 6-goaler Nacho Badiola, making his 26-goal debut at IPC at age 23, and team captain Melissa Ganzi.
“Piaget is a very good team,” Caset said. “We know we are going to play better than we did in the Whitney Cup. We have a good bracket and we had a week to get ready for the Gold Cup. It’s going to be a great tournament.”
Said Piaget coach Joey Casey, “We got a really good draw, so we’re happy.”
Piaget’s tournament bracket includes Lechuza Caracas, ERG and Orchard Hill.
The other Saturday game is ERG against Orchard Hill at 4 p.m.
Last year’s Piaget Gold Cup champion Valiente II is not competing since team captain Robert Jornayvaz returned to his classes at University of Virginia this past fall. His father Bob Jornayvaz is fielding a team that includes 10-goalers Adolfo Cambiaso and Pelon Stirling, two members of last year’s champion team.
First played in 1974, the 26-goal USPA Gold Cup has been played at various polo clubs but found a home at IPC in 2007.
First introduced at Oakbrook Polo Club in Illinois, it then headed north to Milwaukee Polo Club in 1975 and remained there until 1978. After moving south in 1979, the Gold Cup continued a 17-year stretch at Palm Beach Polo and Country Club and moved to Boca Raton’s Royal Palm Polo & Sports Club in 1996. In 2002, the Gold Cup headed north to Greenwich Polo Club where play resumed until 2004. Aiken, S.C. then hosted the Gold Cup in 2005 and 2006.
When the USPA awarded IPC the Gold Cup in 2007, the International Polo Club Palm Beach, home of the 26-goal C. V. Whitney Cup Tournament and U.S. Open Championship, sealed its place in history as host of all three legs of the Triple Crown.
Piaget is saluting IPC’s tenth anniversary with the launch of its new luxury Polo FortyFive Black watch which will join their successful collection of polo watches first introduced in the late 1970s.
USPA PIAGET GOLD CUP AUDI/PIAGET SCHEDULE
Thursday, March 7: Zorzal vs. Audi, 2 p.m.
Saturday, March 9: Lechuza Caracas vs. Piaget, 2 p.m.
Sunday, March 10: Alegria vs. Audi, noon
Wednesday, March 13: Piaget vs. Orchard Hill, 4 p.m.
Thursday, March 14: Zacara vs. Audi, 4 p.m.
Sunday, March 17: Valiente vs. Audi, 10 a.m.; Piaget vs. ERG, 3 p.m.
Wednesday, March 20: Piaget Gold Cup Semifinals, 2, 4 p.m.
Thursday, March 21: Butler Handicap Semifinals, Gold Cup subsidiary, 10 a.m., noon
Sunday, March 24: Butler Handicap Final, noon; USPA Piaget Gold Cup Final, 3 p.m.
Tuesday, March 26: U.S. Open begins, schedule, pairings to be announced.
AUDI/PIAGET TOURNAMENT LINEUP
March 7 – March 24, USPA Piaget Gold Cup
March 26 – April 21, 109th Maserati U.S. Open Polo Championship
GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB
WHERE: On the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington.
INFORMATION: There are great field side views for tournament action at the home base of pro teams Audi and Piaget. Everyone is welcome to watch polo during the spring and fall tournament season and other special events including the Buzz Welker Memorial Junior Tournament, Women’s Championship Tournament and Gay Polo League Tournament.
Sharon Robb for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
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