Audi, Flight Options Begin 110th Maserati U.S. Open On Sunday

WELLINGTON, FL-March 28, 2014----The 110th Maserati U.S. Open, the granddaddy of them all in high goal polo, gets under way Sunday with Grand Champions Polo Club-based pro teams Audi and Flight Options kicking off the schedule.Audi (Marc Ganzi, Gonzalo del Tour, Gonzalito Pieres, Rodrigo Andrade), the 2009 U.S. Open winner, plays Alegria at 10 a.m. followed by first-year team Flight Options (Melissa Ganzi, Eduardo Novillo Astrada, Miguel Novillo Astrada, Alejandro Novillo Astrada) against Coca-Cola at noon at International Polo Club.The third and most prestigious jewel of U.S. polo's Triple Crown, features eight team's including 2013 runner-up Valiente, which has already won the C.V. Whitney Cup and USPA Piaget Gold Cup, two thirds of the Triple Crown.Other teams entered are Lechuza Caracas, Crab Orchard, Orchard Hill, Alegria and Coca-Cola.

Marc Ganzi (1) will compete in this Sunday's 110th Maserati U.S. Open. Photo by Scott Fisher.

The championship final is Easter Sunday, April 20th at 3 p.m.Audi went down fighting before being eliminated in last year's quarterfinals with a 12-8 loss to Zacara.In the 2013 U.S. Open, Zacara defended its title with a come-from-behind 16-13 victory over Valiente, snapping Valiente's 11-game win streak. It was the first time a team successfully defended its U.S. Open title since George Rawling's Crab Orchard won back-to-back titles (2007-08).Crab Orchard will be making its final U.S. Open appearance after Rawlings announced a few weeks ago that it will be his final high goal tournament because of knee problems.In last year's tournament, Zacara 10-goaler Facundo Pieres was the most dominant player on the field, scoring a game-high 12 goals including nine on penalty shots despite a strong crosswind. Brother-in-law Mariano Aguerre was named Most Valuable Player.

Miguel Novillo Astrada (3) of Flight Options and Gonzalito Pieres (3) of Audi will both play in the Maserati U.S. Open. Photo by Scott Fisher.

Two women have won the U.S. Open, Sunny Hale in 2000 with Outback and Gillian Johnston in 2002 with Coca-Cola.The U.S. Open Polo Championship, first played in 1904 at Van Courtland Park, celebrated 100 years in 2004. It is one of three major polo tournaments worldwide along with the British and Argentine Opens. It is also the third jewel of U.S. polo's 26-goal Triple Crown that includes the C.V. Whitney Cup and USPA Piaget Gold Cup.Since 1996, the U.S. Open has been held in South Florida. In 2005, Julio Gracida added to the Gracida family's combined record of 36 U.S. Open Polo Championship wins.For game recaps, news, features and photos of Grand Champions Polo Club-related events, go to www.grandchampionspoloclub.org.Game video and live webcasts can also be seen at PoloNow Network at http://www.polonow.tv/.2014 HIGH GOAL SEASONMARCH 30-APRIL 20: 110th Maserati U.S. Open Polo Championships: SUNDAY: Audi vs. Alegria, 10 a.m.; Flight Options vs. Coca-Cola, noon; APRIL 6: Audi vs. Coca-Cola, noon; Alegria vs. Flight Options, 3 p.m.; APRIL 10: Audi vs. Flight Options 4 p.m.; APRIL 13: Quarterfinals; APRIL 16: Semifinals; APRIL 20: Hall of Fame Cup Final, U.S. Open final.GRAND CHAMPIONS AT PALM BEACH POLO 2014 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE (HOTLINE 561-373-0073)MARCH: Madelon Bourdieu Memorial (5-goal); The Limited Edition 8-Goal Series; March 18-30, Santa Rita Abierto (16 goals); March 23-31, $50,000 National 12-Goal Tournament.APRIL: 6-17, USPA The National President's Cup, 16-17, Las Acacias (5-goal); Museum of Polo & Hall of Fame Challenge Cup (12-goal); John T. Oxley Memorial Trophy (16-goal).THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULEFRIDAY: 8-goal Limited Edition Series Handicap, Tuff Rider/Tulum at Equuleus, 4:30 p.m.SUNDAY: 8-goal Limited Edition Series Final, Far Niente vs. Hawk Hill at Cypress Field, 10 a.m.$50,000 National 12-Goal TournamentFRIDAY: Palm Beach Equine vs. Tackeria/Dutta, 10:30 a.m., Field 8; Palm Beach Polo at Valiente, 3:30 p.m.SANTA RITA ABIERTO 16-GOAL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULESATURDAY: Goose Creek vs. Casablanca, Championship final, 3 p.m., Field 2GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB SCHEDULE (561-644-5050)SATURDAYS: ProKidz Tournament, 2 p.m.APRIL 4-5: Fifth annual Gay Polo League International TournamentAPRIL 8-12: Women's Championship TournamentGRAND CHAMPIONS AT PALM BEACH POLO 2014 SPRING SCHEDULE (561-644-5050)APRIL 17-19: Grand Champions CupAPRIL 24-27: The USPA Spring ChallengeMAY 1-4: The USPA Sun CupMAY 8-11: The USPA Eastern ChallengeMAY 15-18: The Polo Gear Challenge CupMAY 22-26: The MemorialGRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUBWHERE: 13444 Southfields Road, on the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington, 33414.INFORMATION: There are great field side views for tournament action at the home base of pro teams Audi and Flight Options. Everyone is welcome to watch high, medium and low goal polo in a relaxed atmosphere during the winter, spring and fall tournament season and other special events including International Cup in November, Buzz Welker Memorial Junior Tournament in March, ProKidz Tournaments in the spring and fall, Women's Championship Tournament and Gay Polo League International Tournament, both in April.