Following the three last league matches, that have been played on Tuesday April 11, La Fe, La Elina and Pilot are through the quarter finals of the US Open Polo Championship. The teams that have been previously qualified are Scone, Park Place, Dazos, Valiente and MAG. The most prestigious polo competition in the United States and the highlight of The Gauntlet of Polo, the US Open Polo Championship is being played at the USPA-owned National Polo Center Wellington, in Wellington, Florida. The culminating contest of the polo season in the United States sees thirteen teams up to 22 goals, split in five leagues, in participation.
In the opening match, La Fe were victorious 11-9 over Two Trees Polo by Jefferies por 11-9. In the third chukka, and due to a heavy fall, Two Trees’ Miguel Novillo Astrada had to quit the field and was subbed in by Victorino Ruiz. Fortunately, the fall had no consequences for the player, who was admitted into hospital for routine checking. Up next, La Elina defeated Aspen 14-8, and Tamera narrowly beat Pilot 10-9. Despite the loss, and due to goal gap, Pilot qualified to quarter finals.
US OPEN POLO CHAMPIONSHIP – TUESDAY APRIL 11
LA FE 11-9 TWO TREES POLO BY JEFFERIES
La Fe: Louis Devaleix 1, Lucas Diaz Alberdi 6 (2 goals), Francisco Elizalde 9 (8), Robi Bilbao 6 (1). Total: 22.
Two Trees by Jefferies: Will Johnston 1 (2 goals), Juan Sanchez Elia 5 (1), Mariano Aguerre 7 (2), Miguel Novillo Astrada 8 (2)*. Total: 21.
*Subbed in by Victorino Ruiz (2 goals), in the third chukka.
Score La Fe: 2-2, 5-3, 7-5, 11-5, 11-7, 11-9.
Umpires: Julian Appleby & Ronnie Hayes. Third man: Jamie Mirikitani
LA ELINA 14-8 ASPEN
La Elina: Jared Zenni 6 (5 goals), Jeff Hall 6 (3), Matt Coppola 5 (4), Nico Escobar 5 (2). Total: 22.
Aspen: Stewart Armstrong 2, Mariano Gonzalez 5 (2 goals), Rufino Bensadon 8 (6), Pancho Bensadon 7. Total: 22.
Score La Elina: 2-2, 6-2, 6-3, 10-4, 11-6, 14-8.
Umpires: Martín Pascual & Steve Dalton. Third man: Gastón Lucero.
TAMERA 10-9 PILOT
Tamera: Alejandro Poma 1 (1 goal), Segundo Saravi 5 (3), Diego Cavanagh 9 (4), Pedrinho Zacharias 7 (2). Total: 22.
Pilot: Curtis Pilot 0, Matias Gonzalez 4 (1 goal), Facundo Pieres 10 (8), Matias Torres Zavaleta 8. Total: 22.
Score Tamera: 0-1, 2-4, 3-4, 6-6, 8-8-10-9.
Umpires: Kimo Huddleston & Héctor Galindo. Third man: Jamie Mirikitani.
The quarter finals of the US Open Polo Championship are due through Saturday April 15 and Sunday April 16, with the following order of play (US local time):
Saturday April 15:
10am: Dazos vs. Pilot
3pm: Valiente vs. Scone
Sunday April 16:
10am: MAG vs. La Fe
3pm: Park Place vs. La Elina
The final of the US Open Polo Championship will take place on Sunday April 23.
US Open Polo Championship – Fixture & Teams
Cover photo by Agustina Fonda.