Susan G. Komen U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship™ Begins This Weekend
Together with the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC) and Port Mayaca Polo Club in Southern Florida, the United States Polo Association® (USPA) will host the Susan G. Komen U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship™ (16- to 22-goals), March 16-23. A record eight teams comprised of women’s players from across the nation and around the world will be taking the field to compete for the most prestigious women’s tournament in the country. To further their reach as the leading breast cancer foundation, Susan G. Komen will partner with this high-profile women’s event as the title sponsor.
“The U.S Open Women’s Polo Championship is, without question, a premier event in our sport,” said Bob Puetz, CEO of the USPA. “Each year, it grows in global visibility and prominence, and it’s thrilling to see the bar raised every time this diverse group of champion women players compete. With this year’s relocation from the Houston Polo Club in Houston, Texas, to Port Mayaca Polo Club and the International Polo Club Palm Beach in South Florida, we expect a riveting week of play.”
The most celebrated cup in women’s polo in the United States, the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship™ has a profound history dating back to the 1930s in California. The first women’s U.S. Open tournament was presented by the United States Women’s Polo Association (U.S.W.P.A.) in 1937 at the Golden Gate Field in San Francisco, California. On the centennial anniversary of the USPA in 1990, a U.S. Women’s Open was officially sanctioned and held at Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. It was officially recognized as a national tournament in 2011, and has since become America’s largest annual women’s polo event.
The 2017 Champions San Saba will be returning for the chance to reclaim the trophy, competing with three members of the original championship team. The remaining seven teams (Black Watch, BTA/The Villages, Cabo Wabo, Cedar Croft Farms, Crossfit El Cid, Hawaii Polo Life, and Icon Global) will be competing for the first time and the opportunity to capture their inaugural title. Arguably the best women’s player in the world, English 10-goaler Nina Clarkin will be among the competition, representing Hawaii Polo Life. An international event, the tournament rosters boast players from four countries including the United States, Argentina, England, and Kenya. Two all-American teams, Cedar Croft Farms and BTA/The Villages, will be gracing this year’s competition. The USPA is also happy to announce that the tournament will serve as a Women’s Championship Tournament (WCT) Qualifier, The Sunny Hale Legacy.
Following the Draw Party on March 13 at the 7th Chukker Restaurant & Lounge at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida, play dates will take place March 16-
17, 19 and 21 at Port Mayaca Polo Club in Okeechobee, Florida. The official draw determined the playing order for the tournament. The final will be hosted on Saturday, March 23, at the International Polo Club Palm Beach on the U.S. Polo Assn. Field at 11:00am ET.
Coverage of the Susan G. Komen U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship™ matches will be livestreamed on the USPA Polo Network on uspolo.org, Facebook, Youtube and Twitter. For more information on the tournament please visit uspolo.org. Local spectators are encouraged to attend the preliminary matches at Port Mayaca Polo Club and the Championship Final at International Polo Club Palm Beach. General admission is free to all events. Please visit the Women’s Polo Championship™ tab at https://ipc.coth.com to purchase tickets to the Susan G. Komen U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship™ Final which will feature a pink tailgating competition and brunch options.
FIRST ROUND SCHEDULE:
Saturday, March 16 at Port Mayaca Polo Club
12:30pm ET: BTA/The Villages vs. Cabo Wabo
2pm ET: San Saba vs. Cedar Croft Farms
Sunday, March 17 at Port Mayaca Polo Club
12:00pm ET: Hawaii Polo Life vs. Icon Global
1:30pm ET: Crossfit El Cid vs. Black Watch
