Morgan Creek tops Brigadoon in USPA Tommy Hitchcock Memorial Final!
Aiken, SC – The Brigadoon team has shown its consistency by being involved as a finalist in each of the three 302 Polo presented by Mercedes-Benz of Augusta’s spring tournaments. Brigadoon’s long standing group of Christine Cato (A), Julian Daniels (6), Tiger Kneece (6) and Del Walton (4) clashed with Morgan Creek’s strong line up of Julian Aguilar (4), Frankie Bilbao (6), Martin Zegers (6) and Angelo Kleronemos (A) in a hard fought contest that ended with Morgan Creek just edging past Brigadoon with a 9-8 victory at the wire for the USPA Tommy Hitchcock Memorial presented by Brigadoon Residential Development and hosted by 302 Polo presented by Mercedes-Benz of Augusta.
Brigadoon came out storming in the first chukker with Julian Daniels scoring twice and Christine Cato finding the mark once to take an early 3-0 lead. In the second it was all Morgan Creek with goals by Julian Aguilar, Frankie Bilbao and Martin Zegers to even it up at 3-3 at the end of the second period. In the third it was once again a study in domination by Brigadoon with Daniels, Kneece and Walton all putting one through the uprights answered by one lone goal by Morgan Creek’s Aguilar ending the half with Brigadoon in the lead 6-4. In the fourth Morgan Creek began their rally with two unanswered goals, one each by Aguilar and Zegers to end the chukker at 6 all. Penalty shots were the sole source of goals for both teams in the fifth with Daniels finding the mark on a 30 yard penalty #2 conversion and Zegers on both a penalty #2 and a 60 yard penalty #4 conversion for Morgan Creek’s first lead at the end of the fifth 8-7. Tiger Kneece of Brigadoon was the first to find the goal in the sixth to even up the score and it began to look as if overtime might be the order of the day. But then the man with the magic mallet, Frankie Bilbao of Morgan Creek slammed one through the uprights to seal the victory for his team 9-8.
Jack Roth of Brigadoon Equestrian Development and Randy Wolcott of Hitchcock Woods Foundation ably presented mallet bags to the winners and gear bags to the runners up, both items provided by PRISA sportswear. Sam and Linda Christine of All Star Rents presented professional best playing pony honors to Julian Aguilar’s “Churro” while once again Christine Cato’s beautiful “Margarita” took home the amateur best playing pony blanket. Aguilar was also named MVP professional while his team mate and sponsor Angelo Kleronemos garnered the amateur MVP honors.
All present were treated to an authentic Low Country Boil 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 Morgan Creek’s victory in a tournament named to honor one of Aiken’s polo icons, Tommy Hitchcock.
302 Polo (www.302polo.com), Brigadoon Development, Mercedes-Benz of Augusta, All Star Rents, Ag South ACA, PRISA 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.