WELLINGTON, FL-Grand Champions Polo Club-based pro teams Audi and Piaget will compete in the Ylvisaker Cup, the third tournament of the high goal season.

The prestigious tournament, named after visionary business leader and lifelong polo enthusiast Bill Ylvisaker, begins Thursday at International Polo Club Palm Beach.

Piaget will open play on Thursday at 10 a.m. against Coca-Cola. Audi's first game is Friday against Lucchese at 1 p.m.

As defending champion, Piaget will play Sunday's marquis stadium game at 3 p.m. against Goose Creek.

Player-sponsor Melissa Ganzi and her players will be outfitted by Polo Gear in pink jerseys to help raise awareness for the Susan G. Komen Foundation South Florida, dedicated to education, research, treatment and search for a cure for breast cancer.

Ganzi, 10-goaler Miguel Astrada, Juan Bollini and Joaquin Panelo will wear pink polo jerseys in the game.

"Juan, Miguel and Joaquin are all wearing pink," said Ganzi, who is easily recognized on the field in her pink helmet. "I am passionate about the cause and we are excited about doing it. Louise Armour is heading the committee and it was her idea to bring Polo In Pink to IPC. It should be a fun event and hopefully we will raise some money."

Polo In Pink, a pink champagne party, will also be held on Sunday, 1-3 p.m. at IPC's 7th Chukker in honor of breast cancer awareness. A $50

minimum donation is required. There are also limited lawn seats available for the 3 p.m. game for $30.

Piaget and Audi are among favorites in the 14-team field Ylvisaker Cup. Last year Melissa Ganzi's underdog Piaget team knocked off her husband Marc's Audi team in the final.

Piaget defeated previously unbeaten Audi, 13-12. During the month-long tournament their teenage son Grant played for Piaget and made his high goal debut at age 13, playing against his dad at the No. 1 position while mom watched from the Piaget tent.

The Ylvisaker Cup also has a sentimental meaning for Melissa Ganzi, an accomplished equestrian who got her first polo pony in December 2000 from her father-in-law.

"When I first started playing, Bill Ylvisaker was playing against me and he was 77 at the time and he still played pretty well," Ganzi said. "I would hope to still be playing, who knows, until I am 80. I love it."

Melissa Ganzi is one of three women competing in the Ylvisaker Cup tournament. The others are Gillian Johnston of Coca-Cola and Maureen Brennan of Goose Creek. All three teams are in the same bracket.

With La Herradura making its final IPC appearance in the Joe Barry Memorial Cup that ended Sunday, Port Mayaca will be the new team in the tournament lineup with Robert and Stevie Orthwein, Carlucho Arellano and Marianito Obregon.

Bill Ylvisaker, a former captain of the Yale polo team, founded the Palm Beach Polo and Country Club. He founded the Polo Training Foundation to teach and develop young polo players. He was a 7-goal rated player and won three U.S. Opens, two Coronation Cups against England and Australia, Gold Cup and four national 20-goal championships. He was  chairman of the U.S. Polo Association (1970-75) and inducted into the Polo Hall of Fame in 1994. Ylvisaker died February 6, 2010 at age 85.

YLVISAKER CUP AUDI/PIAGET SCHEDULE

Thursday, Jan. 31: Coca-Cola vs. Piaget, 10 a.m.

Friday, February 1: Lucchese vs. Audi, 1 p.m.

Sunday, February 3: Goose Creek vs. Piaget, 3 p.m.

Thursday, February 7: Faraway vs. Audi, 1 p.m.

Saturday, February 9: Crab Orchard vs. Piaget, 10 a.m.

Sunday, February 10: Lechuza Caracas vs. Audi, noon

Thursday, February 14: Subsidiary Quarterfinals

Friday, February 15: Four quarterfinals games, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Saturday, February 16: Outback 40-Goal Challenge (with three players from Audi/Piaget: Miguel Astrada, Sapo Caset and Gonzalito Pieres, 3 p.m.

Sunday, February 17: CV Whitney 26-goal games, TBA

Wednesday, February 20: Ylvisaker Semifinals, 1 and 3 p.m.

Thursday, February 21: Haas Cup Semifinals subsidiary, 1 and 3 p.m.

Sunday, February 24: Haas Cup final, noon; Ylvisaker Cup Final, 3 p.m.

AUDI/PIAGET TOURNAMENT LINEUP

Jan. 31-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

GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB

WHERE: On the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington.

INFORMATION: There are great field side views for tournament action at the home base of pro teams Audi and Piaget. Everyone is welcome to watch polo during the spring and fall tournament season and other special events including the Buzz Welker Memorial Junior Tournament, Women's Championship Tournament and Gay Polo League Tournament.