WELLINGTON, FL - January 11, 2013 - Audi and Piaget, two of the top teams in the 20- and 26-goal tournaments, will open the 2013 polo season Sunday at International Polo Club Palm Beach.

Audi and Piaget are among favorites in the 14-team field Joe Barry Memorial Cup which got under way Thursday with La Herradura defeating Orchard Hill, 14-10, behind Hall of Famer brothers Memo and Carlos Gracida, who led all scoring with eight goals.

Coca-Cola, winners of the season-opening Herbie Pennell Cup, is defending champion of the Joe Barry Memorial Cup, named after one of the sport's top and well-respected players rated at 9 goals.

IPC, polo's winter capital of the world, is celebrating its tenth anniversary with four 20-goal tournaments and three 26-goal tournaments including the 109th annual Maserati U.S. Open. Audi and Piaget will compete in every tournament.

With the Herbie Pennell Cup completed and Joe Barry Memorial under way, the other two 20-goal tournaments are the Jan. 29-Feb. 24 Ylvisaker Cup, won last year by Melissa Ganzi's underdog Piaget team in an upset over husband Marc's Audi team; and Feb. 20-March 3 Iglehart Cup.

The three 26-goal tournaments, the C.V. Whitney (Feb. 20-March 3), USPA Piaget Gold Cup (March 5-24) and prestigious 109th U.S. Open

(March 26-April 21) which has a new title sponsor with Maserati signing on.

"We are very excited about the season," said player-patron Melissa Ganzi, one of only three women competing in the high goal season. The others are Gillian Johnston of Coca-Cola and Maureen Brennan of Goose Creek. "We have high hopes for both teams this year."

On Sunday, Audi, the 2009 U.S. Open champion, opens up against Orchard Hill at 10 a.m. Piaget will play Zacara at noon. Both will be played on the back fields of IPC. To find out the field assignments call the IPC Polo Hotline at 561-282-5290.

Audi, led by player-patron Marc Ganzi of Wellington, features 8-goalers Nico Pieres and Nic Roldan, a Cardinal Newman alum, and Carlitos Gracida, son of Hall of Famer and former 10-goaler Carlos Gracida. The foursome will play the 20-goal season.

Audi's 26-goal team is 10-goaler Gonzalito Pieres, his younger brother Nico Pieres and American 7-goaler Jeff Hall. The Pieres brothers were members of the 2012 Argentine Open Ellerstina champion team.

Marc Ganzi is ranked among the top amateur polo players in the world according to the World Polo Tour rankings.

Audi has the momentum coming into the 2013 season after sweeping the fall 20-goal fall season at Grand Champions Polo Club winning both the USPA National 20-Goal and USPA North America Cup tournaments.

Piaget, led by Melissa Ganzi, will be joined by 10-goaler Miguel Astrada, 5-goaler Juan Bollini and 4-goaler Joaquin Panelo for the 20-goal schedule. Bollini has been wearing a boot on his foot to strengthen his ankle but is raring to go for the opening tournament.

After a three-year hiatus, Piaget competed in the 20-goal tournaments last year winning the Ylvisaker Cup.

Piaget will also compete in the 26-goal tournaments with 10-goalers Miguel Astrada and Sapo Caset, and 6-goaler Nacho Badiola and 5-goaler Juan Bollini, sharing the fourth position.

One of the busiest people during Sunday's doubleheader will be trainer Jeremy Fedoruk of Athletic Enhancement Group Inc., who works with the Ganzi family and both teams. Fedoruk, a Wellington resident, is one of the top-rated trainers and has worked with several world-class athletes.

The IPC season has attracted all eight of the world's top-ranked players rated at 10 goals in the U.S. including Adolfo Cambiaso, Miguel Astrada, Sapo Caset, Pelon Stirling, Juan Martin Nero, Pablo McDonough, Facundo Pieres and Gonzalito Pieres.

The Pieres brothers joined other brother Nico and brother-in-law and MVP Mariano Aguerre for their first Argentine Open victory, a 12-10 upset of six-time defending champion La Dolfina, led by Cambiaso.

Among other season highlights are the Feb. 15 Polo Hall of Fame Inductions at the National Museum of Polo in Lake Worth and Outback 40-Goal Challenge on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 3 p.m. to benefit the Polo Players Support Group, Inc.

2013 SCHEDULES

Audi/Piaget Games

January 13, Sunday: Audi vs. Orchard Hill, 10 a.m.; Piaget vs. Zaccara, noon; January 16, Wednesday: Audi vs. Coca-Cola, 11 a.m.; January 17, Thursday: Piaget vs. Valiente, 3 p.m.; January 19, Saturday: Audi vs. La Herradura, 3 p.m.; January 20, Sunday: Piaget vs. Lucchese, 10 a.m.; January 23, Wednesday, 1 and 3 p.m., Joe Barry Cup Semifinals; January 24, Thursday, 1 and 3 p.m., Bobby Barry Cup Subsidiary Semifinals; January 27, Sunday: Bobby Barry Cup Final, noon; Joe Barry Cup Final, 3 p.m.

TOURNAMENT LINEUP

Jan. 8-27, Joe Barry Memorial Cup

Jan. 29-Feb. 24, Ylvisaker Cup

Feb. 20-March 3, Iglehart Cup

Feb. 20-March 3, CV Whitney Cup

March 5-March 24, USPA Piaget Gold Cup

March 26-April 21, 109th Maserati U.S. Open Polo Championship

INTERNATIONAL POLO CLUB PALM BEACH

3667 129th Avenue South, Wellington

Phone: 561-204-5687

Polo Hotline: 561-282-5290

Ticket Office: 561-282-5334

TICKET PRICES

January-April

$10 General Admission Bleacher Seating

$20 North and South Stadium Lawn Seating

$30 Center Stadium Lawn Seating

$120 Boxed seats