Win or Go Home For 8 Elite Teams as Stanford U.S. Open Quarterfinals
Begin This Weekend at International Polo Club
WELLINGTON, FL (April 13, 2007) – It’s win or go home as the eight elite teams remaining in the hunt for the most prestigious polo trophy in North America square off this weekend in the 26-goal Stanford U.S. Open quarterfinals at International Polo Club Palm Beach.
Perennial powerhouse White Birch, led by mercurial 10-goaler Mariano Aguerre and high-scoring Lucas Monteverde, plays Millarville, the only team remaining without a player ranked above 7 goals, Saturday at 3 p.m. White Birch, which won the 2005 Stanford U.S. Open and has been a runner-up four times, is a dangerous opponent because of their depth and quality of horses. Millarville features a balanced lineup with 7-goalers Fred Mannix Jr., Sugar Erskine and Silvestre Donovan, along with 5-goaler Daniel Roenisch.
Jedi, led by 9-goalers Pablo MacDonough and Juan Martin Nero, plays Lechuza Caracas, led by 10-goaler Sebastian Merlos and 9-goaler Pite Merlos, plays Saturday at 5 p.m. in what should be a physical match. This is Jedi’s first appearance in the Stanford U.S. Open since 2002 and they are considered a top contender. Lechuza Caracas reached the U.S. Open final in 2003 while the Merlos’ have each won the U.S. Open title three times with other teams. Victor Vargas’ team also reached the 2007 USPA Piaget Gold Cup final.
The winners of the two Saturday games meet in the semifinals.
Defending champion Las Monjitas, led by 9-goaler Eduardo Novillo Astrada, plays pre-tournament favorite Crab Orchard, led by 10-goaler Adolfo Cambiaso, Sunday at noon. The teams met earlier this season during the USPA Piaget Gold Cup with Crab Orchard routing Las Monjitas 14-1 in the most dominant display of the year. Crab Orchard is 9-2 in 26-goal games this season, including an 11-8 victory over Las Monjitas in the semifinals of the Iglehart Cup, the subsidiary tournament to the C.V. Whitney Cup. No team has defended the U.S. Open title since Outback won three consecutive from 1999 through 2001 – all with Cambiaso as the centerpiece.
San Saba, featuring award-winning actor Tommy Lee Jones and 9-goaler Javier Novillo Astrada, plays 2006 finalist Orchard Hill, led by its rising superstar, 8-goaler Jeff Hall, on Sunday at 3 p.m. on Stanford Field. San Saba (1-1) lost all four games in the 2006 Stanford U.S. Open but has rebounded nicely this season, thanks in part to the play of 9-goaler Paco de Narvaez, who played for Orchard Hill last year. Eight-goaler Hector Galindo and 9-goaler Lucas Criado must be at the top of their game for Orchard Hill to advance.
The winners of the two Sunday games meet in the semifinals.
The semifinals of the Stanford U.S. Open presented by Bombardier are set for Wednesday, April 18 at noon and 3 p.m.
During halftime of Sunday’s 3 p.m. quarterfinal match between Orchard Hill and San Saba, polo fans will get a chance to absorb the rich history and fascinating customs of an ancient Native American tribal culture from the Pacific Northwest during a visit by the Quinault Indian Nation.
More than a dozen tribal members will perform dressed in traditional Quinault regalia while educating spectators about their heritage. They are so respected that they have opened at a concert for U2.
Jewelry, art and handicrafts made by the Quinault, Coast Salish and other Pacific Northwest tribes will be on display and available for sale to the public.
The Quinault reservation is on the Pacific Ocean side of the Olympic peninsula in Washington, the traditional home where they lived as gatherers, hunters and fishermen in a temperate rainforest teeming with wildlife. The name “Quinault” means “place of wealth” in the tribe’s native language.
“We want Sundays to be a great day for families to come watch this level of professional polo, to see some of the best players in the world at the best club in the United States,” said Brown. “With the Panera Bread Kids Fun Zone and unique halftimes such as the Quinault Indians, there’s something for everyone.”
The Panera Bread Kids Fun Zone continues to be a very popular area and features pony rides, a Bounce House for children 7 and under, a giant inflatable slide, a huge rock climbing wall, an inflatable obstacle course, spin art and sand art, a bungee trampoline and numerous surprises.
The Stanford U.S. Open is the culmination of the ultra-competitive winter polo season and covers the first four Sundays in April. The final, on Sunday, April 22 at 3 p.m. on Stanford Field at International Polo Club, expects to draw more than 7,000 spectators.
Historically, the U.S. Open has always been the grand prize of polo in North America. It is one of only three tournaments played at the 26-goal echelon, the highest-rated tournament in the United States. The others are the C.V. Whitney Cup and USPA Piaget Gold Cup, both also played at International Polo Club.
The first U.S. Open title game was played in 1904 at Van Cortlandt Park in New York City where the Wanderers defeated the Freebooters 4 ½-3, the lowest scoring final in the history of the tournament.
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 $15 for adults and reserved lawn tickets are $40. Children under 3 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.
Saturday’s schedule
White Birch vs. Millarville, 3 p.m.
Jedi vs. Lechuza Caracas, 5 p.m.
Sunday’s schedule
Las Monjitas vs. Crab Orchard, noon
San Saba vs. Orchard Hill, 3 p.m.
Stanford U.S. Open
Scoring Leaders
Player/Team Games Goals
Adolfo Cambiaso, Crab Orchard 3 23
Bautista Heguy, Pony Express 3 19
Julio Arellano, Skeeterville 3 18
Pite Merlos, Lechuza Caracas 3 16
Sebastian Merlos, Lechuza Caracas 3 15
Lucas Monteverde, White Birch 2 14
Nicolas Roldan, Catamount 2 12
Sapo Caset, Las Monjitas 2 11
Pablo MacDonough, Jedi 2 11
Sebastian Merlos, Laurence-Wallace 2 11
Matias Magrini, Crab Orchard 3 11
Mike Azzaro, Laurence-Wallace 2 10
Facundo Pieres, Black Watch 2 10
(through games of April 11)