Audi Rolls Over Patagones 18-6 to Capture Division II Title on Sunday
In Joe Barry Memorial Cup action at International Polo Club
WELLINGTON, FL (January 21, 2007) – Audi started out strong, scoring five unanswered goals en route to an 18-6 rout of Patagones in a 22-goal Joe Barry Memorial Cup polo match Sunday at International Polo Club Palm Beach. The victory clinched the Division II title for Audi.
Audi’s 18 goals are the highest by one team so far in the 2007 season at International Polo Club.
In Thursday’s semifinal at 3 p.m., Audi plays the winner of Monday’s Skeeterville vs. Pony Express game. Despite the loss, Patagones, the all-Argentine foursome, advances to Thursday’s semifinal at 1 p.m. against Division I champion New Bridge La Dolfina. The final is Sunday at 3 p.m. on Stanford Field at International Polo Club.
“We wanted to keep the game open,” said Brandon Phillips, who scored five goals and was named the game’s MVP. “They’re very good at tapping the ball and slowing it down and we needed to play the opposite.”
Audi was in overdrive most of the game, scoring on breakaways from the throw-ins or taking long passes and driving to goal.
Audi built an 8-3 halftime lead but Phillips said the team was concerned during the break.
“We were still worried at halftime. We knew it wasn’t over at halftime,” said Phillips. “We wanted to score the first goal of the fourth chukker and try to break them.”
Nine-goaler Gonzalito Pieres led Audi (2-0) with six goals and had several assists while 7-goaler Fred Mannix Jr. added five goals and patron Marc Ganzi scored two goals. Mannix is playing in place of Juan Bollini, who is recovering from a knee injury suffered in practice prior to the tournament.
Seven-goaler Michel Dorignac led Patagones (1-1) with four goals while Carlos Avendano added two goals.
The game was delayed for 16 minutes when Gonzalo Avendano was hurt 45 seconds into the second half. His horse stumbled and sat atop Avendano. When the horse got up, it stepped on Avendano and left a large red mark above his left hip. Avendano said he did not appear to injure his hip or ribs and he hopes to return to action on Thursday. Cachi Garcia-Velez, 16, replaced Avendano for the remainder of the game.
Audi patron Marc Ganzi said the team dedicated the season to their coach, Buzz Welker, who died of cancer on Nov. 27, 2006. His initials, BW, are stitched inside a circle over the hearts of each player.
“He was a good friend of mine and he coached us in Calgary, in Boca and at International Polo Club last year,” said Ganzi.
The tournament continues today (Monday) with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. when Division I champion New Bridge La Dolfina (2-0) plays Privilege/Gracida International. Skeeterville (1-1) plays Pony Express (1-1) at 3 p.m. with the winner advancing to the semifinals.
The Joe Barry Memorial Cup is named after American polo legend Joe Barry, who died on May 18, 2002 at the age of 58. Born and raised in Texas, he achieved a 9-goal rating and dominated polo in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s. Barry won six U.S. Open championships, three Gold Cups, three Silver Cups as well as the Coronation and Camacho Cup trophies. One of the greatest No. 4s in polo history, Joe Barry was elected to the Polo Hall of Fame in 1999.
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 in advance and they are also available 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.
Standings
Division I
Team W-L GF GA
New Bridge La Dolfina 2-0 29 18
Skeeterville 1-1 21 24
Pony Express 1-1 23 26
Privilege/Gracida International 0-2 24 26
Division II
Team W-L GF GA
Audi 2-0 29 12
Patagones 1-1 18 28
Lechuza Caracas 0-2 16 23
Sunday’s result
Audi 18, Patagones 6
Saturday’s result
New Bridge 13, Skeeterville 9
Joe Barry Memorial Cup schedule:
Monday
New Bridge La Dolfina vs. Privilege/Gracida International, 1 p.m.
Pony Express vs. Skeeterville, 3 p.m.
Thursday
Semifinals
New Bridge La Dolfina vs. Patagones, 1 p.m.
Audi vs. winner of Pony Express vs. Skeeterville, 3 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 28
Championship Game, 3 p.m.
Previous champions:
2006 – Catamount defeated Lechuza Caracas 9-7 (22-goal)
2005 – Lechuza Caracas defeated Millarville 13-10 (22-goal)
2004 – Catamount defeated Bendabout 13-10 (22-goal)
2003 – La Herradura defeated Brigadoon 8-5 (18-goal)