The 126th Argentine Open, the most important polo tournament in the world, kicked off on Saturday. For a third year in a row, ten teams are competing for the prestigious title. Defending champions La Dolfina will play for their seventh consecutive championship.
Even though the day started with poor weather, the sun eventually came out and brightened the day. La Irenita’s Juan Jauretche and La Aguada’s Lucas Díaz Alberdi debuted in the Argentine Open, while Juan Britos, who debuted in the Argentine Open in 2018, played his first match at Palermo’s ground 1.
Both La Ensenada and La Dolfina Polo Ranch claimed convincing wins, but the matches were not overly attractive.
It was clear, however, that Palermo’s ground 1 is in much better conditions than it was last year.
LA ENSENADA 14-7 LA IRENITA
La Ensenada: Facundo Fernández Llorente 7 (2 goals), Juan Gris Zavaleta 8 (2), Juan Martín Zubía 8 (7, 6 penalties), Jero del Carril 7 (3). Total: 30.
La Irenita: Tito Ruiz Guiñazú 8, Juan Jauretche 6, Clemente Zavaleta 7 (2 goals), Diego Araya 7 (5, 4 penalties). Total: 28.
Score La Ensenada: 1-1, 4-2, 5-2, 6-4, 10-5, 10-7, 11-7, 14-7.
Umpires: Federico Martelli and Rafael Silva.
Third man: Gonzalo López Vargas.
Best Polo Argentino: Irenita Suave (Irenita Lunático x Sugerencia), played by: Diego Araya.
LA DOLFINA POLO RANCH 17-9 LA AGUADA
La Dolfina Polo Ranch: Guillermo Terrera 8 (3 goals), Juan Britos 8 (6, 4 penalties), Diego Cavanagh 8 (8, 6 penalties), Jejo Taranco 8. Total: 32.
La Aguada: Lucas Díaz Alberdi 7 (2 goals), Alfredo Bigatti 8, Alejandro Novillo Astrada 8 (5 penalties), Ignacio Novillo Astrada 9 (2). Total: 32.
Score La Dolfina Polo Ranch: 3-1, 3-3, 5-4, 7-7, 9-7, 12-7, 15-8, 17-9.
Umpires: Gastón Lucero and José I. Araya.
Third man: Martín Pascual.
Best Polo Argentino: Morejon Patita (Irenita Infame x Mala Pata), played by Juan Britos.
Nomination 1: Dolfina Cora (Durazno x Small Pearson), played by Diego Cavanagh.
Nomination 2: Future Rayuela (Open Sunset x Rusita), played by Juan Britos.
The Argentine Open continues on Sunday:
2pm: La Albertina Abu Dhabi vs La Natividad
4:30pm: Las Monjitas vs Cría Yatay
ARGENTINE POLO OPEN: Fixture & Teams
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