International Polo Club Palm Beach Florida

Isla Carroll, ERG Capture Must-Win Games in Stanford U.S. Open Action
Wednesday at International Polo Club

WELLINGTON, FL (April 12, 2006) – Two-time champion Isla Carroll and ERG did what they had to do to keep their playoff hopes alive in the 2006 Stanford U.S. Open Championship Wednesday at International Polo Club Palm Beach.
Nine-goaler Eduardo Heguy scored eight goals to lead Isla Carroll over Bendabout 12-10 and 10-goal Agustin Merlos scored six goals to as ERG edged Orchard Hill 13-12.
With the wins, Isla Carroll and ERG improved their records to 2-2 in their quest for the quarterfinals of the Stanford U.S. Open Championship. Their fates hinge on the outcome of Thursday’s three games.
In other Stanford U.S. Open action, 9-goaler Facundo Pieres scored six goals to lead Black Watch over San Saba 11-9.
The Stanford U.S. Open continues today (Thursday) with three games, beginning at 11 a.m. when BTA (1-2) plays Lechuza Caracas (0-3), followed by defending champion White Birch (2-1) against Pony Express (3-0) at 1 p.m. and ending with Las Monjitas (3-0) against Mokarow Farms (2-1).
Bendabout’s Alejandro Novillo Astrada scored the game’s first two goals but Isla Carroll controlled the rest of the contest, building a 10-6 lead with 5:01 left in the fifth chukker on Pepe Heguy’s 25-yard forehand.
Bendabout responded with three consecutive goals, highlighted by Miguel Novillo Astrada’s 80-yard forehand with 6:02 left in the sixth chukker to cut the margin to 11-9.
With Bendabout threatening on the next possession, Pepe Heguy cleared a shot by Alejandro Novillo Astrada. However, Bendabout’s Luis Escobar returned the favor on Eduardo Heguy on the ensuing possession.
Eduardo Heguy converted a 40-yard penalty shot with 3:43 left in the game to give Isla Carroll a 12-9 lead. Pepe Heguy saved another goal at 1:05 left and Escobar’s goal with 48 seconds remaining rounded out the scoring.
“We needed to win by two or more goals and we did it,” said Eduardo Heguy. “If not, we were going home.”
Heguy also said Isla Carroll didn’t make a lot of mistakes.
“We kept the same style the whole game,” Eduardo Heguy said. “We kept our concentration until the last second.”
Isla Carroll, which won the 1997 U.S. Open, also won the U.S. Open title in 2004 despite being the final team to qualify for the playoffs.
Pepe Heguy finished with four goals while Sugar Erskine and patron John Goodman did not score. Miguel Novillo Astrada led Bendabout (3-1) with six goals while Alejandro Novillo Astrada had two goals and patron Gillian Johnston and Escobar added one goal apiece.
Bendabout has qualified for the quarterfinals.
Eight-goaler Marcos diPaola’s breakaway with 4:15 left in the final chukker lifted ERG to victory. DiPaola replaced Matias Magrini, who suffered a fractured femur last week. Magrini was on the sidelines on crutches watching his team. He expects to begin riding in about six weeks. DiPaola finished with four goals and Pablo Spinacci added three goals for ERG (2-2) while patron Scott Wood did not score.
“This was an important win for us, obviously,” said Merlos. “We tried to keep Pablo (Spinacci) up front with Marcos (diPaola) in the back. It was the same system we used against Black Watch in the second half (a 14-10 win).”
Nine-goaler Paco de Narvaez led Orchard Hill (2-2) with five goals while Jeff Hall scored four goals, Hector Galindo added two goals and patron Steve Van Andel had one goal. It was Orchard Hill’s second consecutive loss.
Gonzalito Pieres added four goals, all in the second half, for Black Watch (1-3) while Nacho Figueras had one goal. Patron Neil Hirsch did not score.
Eight-goaler Silvestre Donovan led San Saba (0-4) with six goals while Javier Novillo Astrada, Toto Collardin and Alina Carta scored one goal apiece. Carta filled in for patron Tommy Lee Jones, who was out of town on business.
            The quarterfinals of the Stanford U.S. Open presented by Bombardier are scheduled for Sunday 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

Thursday, April 13            11 a.m.               BTA vs. Lechuza Caracas
                                          1 p.m.                   White Birch vs. Pony Express
                                            3 p.m.                  Mokarow Farms vs. Las Monjitas

Stanford U.S. Open
Standings (through April 12)

Team                                        W-L     Net Goals         Goals Scored

1. Las Monjitas                        3-0       +11                  38
2. Pony Express                       3-0       +4                    33
3. Bendabout                            3-1       +3                    37
4. White Birch                          2-1       +2                    30
5. Mokarow Farms                  2-1       +1                    33
6. Orchard Hill             2-2       +1                    47
7. Isla Carroll                           2-2       1                     42
8. ERG                         2-2       0                     47
9. Skeeterville                           2-2       -1                     41
10. BTA                                   1-2       -5                     31
11. Black Watch                      1-3       -5                     39
12. Lechuza Caracas                0-3       -6                     29
13. San Saba                            0-4       -6                     34

International Polo Club
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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.