Jedi, Orchard Hill Win First-round games Wed. in
26-Goal Hall of Fame Cup @ IPC, FL

WELLINGTON, FL (February 22, 2006) – Nine-goaler Pablo MacDonough scored on a tap-in with 31 seconds remaining to lift Jedi over San Saba 10-9 in the first round of the single-elimination 26-goal Hall of Fame Cup Wednesday at International Polo Club Palm Beach. It was Jedi’s first competitive game in the United States since the 2002 U.S. Open.

In other Hall of Fame action, Orchard Hill made a successful season debut, edging Lechuza Caracas 13-12 behind 9-goaler Paco de Narvaez’s seven goals.

MacDonough was all alone when he took a pass from Santiago Chavanne, who was near the right boards being double-teamed. MacDonough dribbled in for what proved to be the winning goal.

Silvestre Donovan tied the game at 9-9 with 1:25 remaining, dribbling down the middle after receiving a long pass from Javier Novillo Astrada. The was the third tie of the second half.

Ale Agote led Jedi with four goals while MacDonough and Santiago Chavanne finished with three goals apiece. Toto Collardin led San Saba with four goals while Javier Novillo Astrada scored three goals and Silvestre Donovan added two goals.

There is a doubleheader on Thursday beginning at 11 a.m. when Black Watch, featuring young superstar 9-goalers Facundo and Gonzalito Pieres, plays Pony Express, led by 9-goaler Piki Alberdi and 8-goaler Pancho Bensadon. This is Black Watch’s season debut. The second half of the doubleheader features Las Monjitas, led by 9-goalers Eduardo Novillo Astrada and Adam Snow, against New Bridge La Dolfina, which features 10-goaler Adolfo Cambiaso and 9-goaler Matias Magrini at 3 p.m. This is the first game of the season for Las Monjitas.

Isla Carroll, Skeeterville and Mokarow Farms received first-round byes. White Birch defeated Skeeterville 11-10 in the 2005 final for the first jewel in the U.S. triple crown.
The semifinals are set for Thursday, March 2 and the final is scheduled for Sunday, March 5 at 3 p.m. on Stanford Field at International Polo Club.

The tournament is named in honor of the National Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame, a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization dedicated to the preservation of the history and tradition of the sport of polo. The Museum houses an extensive collection of historic documents and treasures that include important trophies, artifacts, books, works of art and other memorabilia. The Hall of Fame, located in Lake Worth, Florida, was created to honor the heroes of the sport.

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.
 
Schedule:
 
Thursday, Feb. 23
 
11 a.m. – Pony Express vs. Black Watch
3 p.m. – Las Monjitas vs. New Bridge La Dolfina
 
Friday, Feb. 24
 
10 a.m. – White Birch vs. Bendabout
 
Saturday, Feb. 25
 
1 p.m. – Isla Carroll vs. Orchard Hill
 
 

International Polo Club
Palm Beach