International Polo Club Palm Beach Florida

White Birch Wins Second Straight; Bendabout Remains Unbeaten with 8-7 Victory over San Saba in Stanford U.S. Open Action Saturday at International Polo Club

WELLINGTON, FL (April 8, 2006) – Ten-goaler Mariano Aguerre scored seven goals as defending champion White Birch put on an offensive display en route to a 13-12 victory over Orchard Hill in a key match in the 2006 Stanford U.S. Open Saturday at International Polo Club Palm Beach.

In other Stanford U.S. Open action, Bendabout won its third consecutive game, an 8-7 triumph over San Saba, virtually clinching a spot in the quarterfinals. The loss eliminated San Saba with one game remaining.

White Birch built a 13-8 lead early in the sixth chukker and held on for its second consecutive victory. Orchard Hill scored four consecutive goals but time ran out before it could get the tying score.

The victory gives White Birch an excellent opportunity to qualify for the quarterfinals. No team has repeated as U.S. Open champion since Outback Steakhouse won three-in-a-row from 1999 through 2001.

Nine-goaler Lucas Criado added five goals for White Birch (2-1) while patron Peter Brant added one goal. Seventeen-year-old Miguelito Torres, the youngest starter in the tournament, did not score.

Paco de Narvaez led Orchard Hill (2-1) with four goals while patron Steve Van Andel and Jeff Hall scored two goals apiece and Hector Galindo scored one goal.

San Saba tied the game at 6-6 on Silvestre Donovan’s goal with 4:08 left in the fifth chukker. A minute later his 60-yard penalty shot was blocked and Bendabout scored two goals in a 46-second span to take an 8-6 lead. Alejandro Novillo Astrada scored on a breakaway and Luis Escobar connected on a 10-yard neck shot with 34 seconds to give Bendabout a two-goal lead.

Neither team mounted much offense in the sixth chukker, as Toto Collardin of San Saba scored on a 30-yard neck shot with 2:18 left. But San Saba could not get the tying goal.

Alejandro Novillo Astrada led Bendabout with five goals while Miguel Novillo Astrada, Luis Escobar and patron Gillian Johnston scored one goal apiece.

Toto Collardin led San Saba (0-3) with three goals while Javier Novillo Astrada and Silvestre Donovan scored two goals each. Alina Carta, who substituted for patron Tommy Lee Jones, did not score.

The Stanford U.S. Open continues Sunday with four games, highlighted by two-time champion Isla Carroll (1-1) against Pony Express (2-0) at 3 p.m. on Stanford Field at International Polo Club.

The quarterfinals of the Stanford U.S. Open presented by Bombardier are scheduled for Sunday, April 16 with the semifinals set for Wednesday, April 19. The final, on Sunday, April 23 at 3 p.m. on Stanford Field at International Polo Club, expects to draw more than 8,000 spectators.

Historically, the U.S. Open has always been the grand prize of polo in North America. It is one of only four tournaments played at the 26-goal echelon, the highest-rated tournament in the United States. The others are the Hall of Fame Cup and the C.V. Whitney Cup, both also played at International Polo Club Palm Beach in 2006, and the USPA Gold Cup, being played in Aiken, South Carolina later this year.

The first U.S. Open title game was played in 1904 at Van Cortland Park in New York City where the Wanderers defeated the Freebooters 4 ?-3, the lowest scoring final in the history of the tournament.

The polo matches at International Polo Club are open to the public. General admission for the Sunday games at International Polo Club Palm Beach is $15 for adults and reserved lawn tickets are $40. Children under 12 enter for free. Tickets may be purchased at the gate on the day of the game.

International Polo Club Palm Beach is located at 3667 120th Avenue South, between Pierson Road and Lake Worth Road in Wellington. For information, directions or ticket purchases, please call the club at (561) 204-5687 or visit the website at www.internationalpoloclub.com.

Stanford U.S. Open Schedule

Sunday, April 9                  10 a.m.                 Skeeterville vs. BTA
                                          Noon                    Las Monjitas vs. Lechuza Caracas
                                          Noon                    ERG vs. Black Watch
                                          3 p.m.                   Isla Carroll vs. Pony Express

International Polo Club
Palm Beach

Tournament Schedule

News & Game Results

Game Schedule & Team Line-ups

Photos by David Lominska

Contact Info:

For ticket information, call (561) 204-5687

Club website at www.internationalpoloclub.com.

For information about the upcoming 2005 high-goal season, including the Stanford Financial Group U.S. Open, call the club at (561) 204-5687

International Polo Club Palm Beach is located at 3667 120th Avenue South, between Pierson Road and Lake Worth Road, in Wellington.