White Birch, Pony Express Post Victories to Advance to Thursday’s Semifinals in Ylvisaker Cup @ IPC, FL

WELLINGTON, FL (February 13, 2006) – Ten-goaler Mariano Aguerre scored eight goals to lead White Birch over San Saba 9-8 and 8-goaler Rookie Bailieu scored eight goals to pace Pony Express past Bendabout 11-6 Monday as the winners advanced to the semifinals of the 22-goal Ylvisaker Cup at International Polo Club Palm Beach.

White Birch (3-1) will play No. 1 Skeeterville (4-0), which is led by 8-goaler Julio Arellano, at 1 p.m. Defending champion Pony Express (3-1) will play No. 2 New Bridge La Dolfina (4-0), which is led by 10-goaler Adolfo Cambiaso, at 3 p.m. The final is Sunday at 3 p.m. on Stanford Field at International Polo Club.

San Saba scored three consecutive goals, including a short forehand by patron Tommy Lee Jones, to tie the game at 7-7 with 5:02 left in the game. Aguerre responded with a pair of goals in a 1:35 span to put White Birch ahead 9-7 with 2:45 remaining.

Javier Novillo Astrada cut the margin to 9-8 on a backshot with 45 seconds left in the game but San Saba could not get a shot off in the waning moments.

Julio Gracida scored one goal for White Birch while patron Peter Brant and Miguelito Torres did not score. Toto Collardin led San Saba with four goals while Astrada finished with three goals and Jones had one.

Pony Express led the entire game, jumping out to a 5-1 halftime lead. Bendabout rallied to within 8-6 with 5:21 left in the game, but could not closer as the winners responded by converting three penalty shots within a 57-second span to clinch the victory.

Gonzalo von Wernich added two goals and patron Bob Daniels scored one goal for Pony Express. Nicolas Roldan did not score but sparked the offense with his passing and ball control.

Ten-goaler Miguel Novillo Astrada led Bendabout (0-4) with four goals while Lucas Monteverde scored two goals and patron Gillian Johnston added one goal. Will Johnston did not score.

The Ylvisaker Cup in named in honor of William T. “Bill” Ylvisaker, a polo pioneer who founded Palm Beach Polo and Country Club in the late 1970s. A former Chairman of the USPA, Ylvisaker was elected into the Polo Hall of Fame in 1996. Ylvisaker, whose highest handicap was 7 goals, has won numerous major polo tournaments, including the prestigious U.S. Open in 1972.

The polo matches are open to the public. General admission for the Sunday games at International Polo Club Palm Beach is $10 for adults. 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.
 

International Polo Club
Palm Beach