Brigadoon beats Bendabout to clinch USPA Monty Waterbury Title!
Aiken, SC – Brigadoon continued its tournament long sterling performance rallying for the win in the first in a series of two NAPL events, USPA Monty Waterbury presented by Morgan Stanley, co-hosted by 302 Polo presented by Mercedes-Benz of Augusta and New Bridge Polo and Country Club. Aiken’s home town favorites, Brigadoon featuring a line up of Christine Cato (A), Julian Daniels (6), Julio Arellano (8) and Tiger Kneece (6) held off a very competitive Bendabout an NAPL member team comprised of Gillian Johnston (1), Hector Galindo (7), Owen Rinehart (7) and Whistle Uys (5) to win 11-10 in a very hard fought contest.
After an ably executed “mock throw in” by tournament sponsor Morgan Stanley’s South Carolina Regional Manager, Michael Robinson, the game was off to an even start with goals traded by Brigadoon’s Kneece and Bendabout’s Rinehart to end the first even up at 1-1. Brigadoon’s dominance exerted itself in the second with two consecutive goals by Arellano, one by Kneece and one by Daniels to extend their advantage over Bendabout to 5-1. Bendabout’s Gillian Johnston’s amateur MVP performance was characterized by her hat trick of three goals scored in the third along with Galindo and Rinehart each finding the mark to surpass Brigadoon and take the lead at the half 6-5. In the fourth Johnston once again showed her prowess with a mallet by scoring twice more answered only once by Brigadoon’s Kneece to bring Brigadoon within two as the chukker finished at 8-6, Bendabout retaining their advantage. The fifth chukker belonged to Brigadoon with four unanswered goals to end the fifth with Brigadoon ahead again 10-8. The sixth and final chukker began slowly with no goals scored by either side, and then Bendabout’s Hector Galindo fired off two penalty conversions to tie it up at 10-10. Aiken’s own Tiger Kneece executed a beautiful play by picking up a wayward ball, after Arellano lost control of it on the way to goal. Tiger maintained his composure under pressure and slammed it through the uprights to seal the victory for Brigadoon 11-10.
The Morgan Stanley contingent ably led by father-daughter financial services team Rick and Taryn Hartnett presented the historically significant Monty Waterbury Cup to the winners. Each member of the winning team received a gorgeous crystal vase courtesy of Crystal Engravers of Aiken to commemorate their victory in this very prestigious tournament. UPS, a newcomer to the ranks of 302 Polo presented by Mercedes-Benz of Augusta sponsors, presented the Best Playing Pony awards to Amateur Best Playing Pony, Silver Leaf, amateur Gillian Johnston’s third chukker mount, while Lexi, played by Hector Galindo took home the professional Best Playing Pony blanket. UPS also presented the MVP honors to Julio Arellano for professional MVP, and Gillian Johnston for amateur MVP.
All present were treated to festive fall barbeque prepared by executive chef Jacqui Sutherland of Aiken’s own Stir the Pot as a sultry Carolina evening was enjoyed by all at the grand New Bridge Club House to celebrate Brigadoon’s victory in a tournament named to honor one of polo’s most famous icons, Monty Waterbury.
302 Polo (www.302polo.com), Morgan Stanley, Mercedes-Benz of Augusta, UPS and all of the participating corporate sponsors were delighted to host this prestigious tournament in Aiken and welcome you to attend future matches. For schedule updates and more information either visit the website at www.302polo.com or call the hotline (803) 642-8780.