Defending Champion White Birch Escapes with 14-13 Overtime Win Over
Orchard Hill in C.V. Whitney Cup Thursday at International Polo Club

WELLINGTON, FL (March 9, 2006) – Nine-goaler Lucas Criado converted a 30-yard penalty shot with 20 seconds left in overtime to lift defending champion White Birch over Orchard Hill 14-13 in a first-round game of the 26-goal C.V. Whitney Cup Thursday at International Polo Club Palm Beach.

In other action, 10-goaler Agustin Merlos scored 10 goals to spark ERG over Bendabout 15-11 and 2005 finalist Black Watch held off Lechuza Caracas 12-11.
 
White Birch led most of the game, trailing 2-0 early in the first chukker and 13-12 with 2:35 remaining in the contest on 9-goaler Paco de Narvaez’s 30-yard penalty shot.

Ten-goaler Mariano Aguerre sent the game into overtime, dribbling down the middle and tapping home the tying goal with 1:28 left. White Birch almost won the game in regulation but Ulysses Escapite missed an opportunity with 38 seconds left. There were only three ties in the game.

Orchard Hill kept control of the ball in their offensive zone early in the overtime but could not score. De Narvaez missed a 40-yard penalty shot wide left with 5:03 remaining in overtime.

Both teams had several scoring opportunities but neither capitalized until the final seconds.

Aguerre led White Birch (1-0) with nine goals while Criado finished with four goals and Ulysses Escapite had one goal. Patron Peter Brant did not score.

Paco de Narvaez led Orchard Hill (0-1) with seven goals while Jeff Hall scored four goals and Hector Galindo added one goal. Patron Steve Van Andel did not score.

ERG dominated the second half, scoring five unanswered goals in the fifth chukker to snap a 9-9 tie.

Pablo Spinacci finished with three goals for ERG (1-0) while patron Scott Wood and Matias Magrini added one goal each. Ten-goaler Miguel Novillo Astrada led Bendabout with five goals while patron Gillian Johnston scored three goals, Julio Gracida had two goals and Lucas Monteverde added one goal.

Black Watch scored three consecutive goals to take a 12-10 lead midway through the sixth chukker. Sebastian Merlos made a 30-yard penalty shot with 31 seconds left to cut the margin to 12-11 but Lechuza could not get a shot away before the game ended.

Nine-goaler Facundo Pieres led Black Watch (1-0) with six goals while Nacho Figueras added three goals and Gonzalito Pieres scored two goals. Patron Neil Hirsch did not score.

Merlos and Sapo Caset led Lechuza Caracas (0-1) with five goals each while Magoo Laprida added one goal. Patron Victor Vargas did not score.

 The tournament continues with a doubleheader on Thursday at Isla Carroll plays BTA and Las Monjitas takes on Pony Express, both at 10 a.m.

Fourteen teams, the largest field of the 2006 winter season, have entered the tournament. Seven 10-goalers – Aguerre (White Birch), Javier Novillo Astrada (San Saba), Miguel Novillo Astrada (Bendabout), Mike Azzaro (BTA), Carlos Gracida (Mokarow Farms), Agustin Merlos (ERG) and Sebastian Merlos (Lechuza Caracas) – are competing in the event.

The quarterfinals are scheduled for Sunday, March 19 with the semifinals set for Thursday, March 23 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The final is Sunday, March 26 at 3 p.m. on Stanford Field at International Polo Club.

The tournament is named in memory of Cornelius Vanderbilt “Sonny” Whitney, who along with his cousin John Hay Whitney, were important polo patrons in the 1930's. The son of Hall of Fame patron Harry Payne Whitney, C.V. won the U.S. Open three times (twice against his brother), and was a renowned owner and breeder of thoroughbred racehorses.

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 $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.
 
C.V. Whitney Schedule
 
Friday, March 10                     10 AM             Las Monjitas v. Pony Express
                                                10 AM             Isla Carroll v BTA
 
Sunday, March 12                    10 AM             Orchard Hill v. Lechuza
                                                10 AM             Mokarow Farms v. Bendabout
                                                Noon               Black Watch v. San Saba
                                                3 PM               Skeeterville v. White Birch
 
Monday, March 13                  11 AM             Jedi v. ERG
                                                1 PM               BTA v. Pony Express
                                                3 PM               Isla Carroll v. Las Monjitas
 
Wednesday, March 15 11 AM             Black Watch v. White Birch
                                                1 PM               Skeeterville v. Lechuza
                                                3 PM               Orchard Hill v. San Saba
 
Thursday 16                             10 AM             BTA v. Las Monjitas
                                                11 AM             Jedi v. Bendabout
                                                1 PM               Isla Carroll v Pony Express
                                                3 PM               Mokarow Farms v. ERG
 
 
Sunday 19                    TBA                 Quarterfinal      Game I: 1st v 8th
                                    TBA                 Quarterfinal      Game II: 2nd v. 7th
                                    TBA                 Quarterfinal      Game III: 3rd v. 6th
                                    TBA                 Quarterfinal      Game IV: 4th v. 5th
 
Thursday 23                 1 PM   Semifinal           Winner of Quarterfinal Game I v.
                                                                                    Winner of Quarterfinal Game IV
 
Thursday 23                 3 PM   Semifinal           Winner of Quarterfinal Game II v.
                                                                                    Winner of Quarterfinal Game III
 
Sunday 26                    3 PM   Final
 

International Polo Club
Palm Beach