On a beautiful Wednesday night at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC), the Women’s International Polo Network (WIPN) hosted the draw party for the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship. The tournament is set to begin Saturday, March 14 at Port Mayaca Polo Club, with the finals being hosted on Field One at IPC for the first time ever on Sunday, March 23. Playing at the 18-22 goal level, eight teams, made up of the top female players from around the world, will vie for the top honors at the finals.
As a United States Polo Association (USPA) sanctioned event, Bob Puetz, CEO of the United States Polo Association (USPA), began the night by introducing one of the founding members of the WIPN, Dawn Jones of San Saba. Jones, a 6-goal rated player, spoke of the significance of the 2019 U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championships.
“I’m so excited about the number of women that are participating and the diversity of where they come from and the diversity of age. For women’s polo to reach this point where we have so many participants is historic. This is a great launching pad and this is so important because we’re demonstrating to the rest of the world that our approach is succeeding,” Jones reflected in front of a crowd of the polo community.
The tournament, who has aligned forces with Susan G. Komen Florida, will help to bring more recognition to international women in the sport of polo, the same way that Komen Florida works tirelessly to bring more awareness and education to women in Florida. Komen Florida saves lives by meeting the most critical needs in our communities and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer. All proceeds from the tournament will go to benefitting Komen South Florida.
“I’m really honored that Susan B. Komen is partnering with us for this event and they see the value in this in the long term,” said Jones. “This isn’t something we’re just doing one time, they’re thinking about the future of women’s polo so I’m very excited about this partnership.”
The evening ended with IPC owner, Mark Bellissimo, taking the stage to speak of the exciting future that polo in Wellington has, with the creation of the Gauntlet of Polo in addition to the launch of the Women’s International Polo Network.
“I’m delighted to see such a great group of women out here tonight. Polo in Wellington has a very bright future and one of the great things about this women’s network is how it has made it to Field One,” Bellissimo told the crowd.
The list of participating teams in the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship in their newly announced tournament brackets are available below, as well as a schedule of games:
BTA/The Villages
Maddie Grant (4)
Paige McCabe (5)
KC Kruerger (7)
Courtney Asdourian (6)
22
Cabo Wabo
Roni Duke (2)
Hope Arellano (5)
Hazel Jackson (9)
Gillian Johnston (6)
22
Cedar Croft Farms
Kylie Sheehan (4)
Mia Bray (4)
Alyson Poor (5)
Julia Smith (5)
17
Cria Yatay
Delphi Blaquier (1)
Melissa Ganzi (3)
Mili Sanchez (7)
Milagros Fernandez-Araujo (7)
18
Crossfit El Cid
Malia Bryan (4)
Cecelia Cochran (5)
Tiva Gross (6)
Izzy Parsons (7)
22
Hawaii Polo Life
Anja Jacobs (2)
Pamela Flanagan (3)
Mia Cambiaso (6)
Nina Clarkin (10)
21
Icon Global
Mia Astrada (6)
Olivia Uechtritz (3)
Cande Fernandez-Araujo (8)
Clarissa Echezarreta (5)
22
San Saba
Sarah Siegel-Magness (0)
Dawn Jones (6)
Lia Salvo (8)
Sarah Wiseman (8)
22
For more information on the WIPN, go to www.wipnpolo.com or visit their Facebook page, Women’s International Polo Network.