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U.S. amateur predicts UBS upset

The amateurs qualified through U.S. regional heats

NEWPORT, Rhode Island -- The amateur winner of the UBS Challenge U.S. Championship predicts major upsets in the UBS Challenge match racing finals this weekend.

The UBS Challenge sees amateurs race professionals, including nine skippers from America's Cup syndicates.

"Our team is thrilled that we'll have the opportunity to compete against America's Cup contenders, and we predict there will be some major upsets at the UBS Challenge Finals later this week," said U.S. winner, Ben Cesare.

After taking the top three places in the U.S. event, Cesare, Andy Lovell and Mason Woodworth will race some of the top America's Cup skippers for a share of the $100,000 prize, one of the biggest prizes in sailing.

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The three American amateur sailors advanced to the U.S. final after a series of regional qualifying heats in six U.S. cities, during the past three months.

The finals begin in Newport, Rhode Island on Wednesday.

The UBS Challenge is the second event in the 2002-3 Swedish Match Tour of nine events.

This is the last time that the America's Cup skippers are likely to race each other before the challenger elimination series starts in Auckland, New Zealand in October.