WELLINGTON, Florida – Six-goaler Santiago Trotz scored his only goal of the game on a five-yard forehand with 1:02 remaining to lift Pony Express over White Birch 12-11 in a 22-goal Hall of Fame Cup polo match Thursday at International Polo Club Palm Beach. Despite the loss, White Birch finished first in Division I.

In other Hall of Fame Cup action, Las Monjitas dominated the second half en route to a 13-8 victory over Old Pueblo, clinching first place in Division IV. Also, Alejandro Novillo Astrada and Miguel Novillo Astrada combined for 10 goals to lead Bendabout over Texas Polo 15-13 in the highest scoring game of the tournament. The win clinched first place in Division III for Bendabout.

The quarterfinals are Sunday with the matchups as follows: White Birch vs. Catamount, Bendabout vs. Pony Express, ERG vs. Everglades and Las Monjitas vs. Crab Orchard. The semifinals are scheduled for Wednesday. Seventeen teams entered the tournament. The Hall of Fame Cup final is Sunday, February 29 at 3 p.m. at the International Polo Club Palm Beach stadium.

Pony Express, which trailed 11-8 heading into the final chukker, tied the game at 11-11 on patron Bob Daniels’ only goal on a breakaway late in the sixth chukker. Sapo Caset led Pony Express (3-1) with seven goals and Alex Agote added three goals.

Ten-goaler Mariano Aguerre led White Birch (3-1) with eight goals while Del Walton, Todd Offen and Carlucho Arellano added one goal each.

Bendabout snapped a 5-5 halftime tie by outscoring Old Pueblo 6-2 in the fourth and fifth chukkers to hold an 11-7 advantage heading into the final chukker. Willie Hartnett added three goals and patron Camilo Bautista did not score for Las Monjitas. Brandon Phillips led Old Pueblo with four goals while Jeff Hall and Nicolas Roldan finished with two goals apiece. Old Pueblo patron John Hall did not score.

Bendabout patron Gillian Johnston scored four goals to complement the Astrada brothers performance. The balanced scoring offset a nine-goal performance by 6-goaler Francisco Lanusse. Pepe Heguy and Ruben Sola added two goals each for Texas Polo while patron Michael Price did not score.

The polo matches are open to the public. Tickets for the Sunday games at the International Polo Club Palm Beach are available at the gate, beginning at $10 each. For information, call (561) 204-5687 or visit the club website at www.internationalpoloclub.com.

International Polo Club Palm Beach is located at 3667 120th Avenue South in Wellington. From I-95, take the Forest Hill Boulevard exit and go west approximately 12 miles. Turn left onto South Shore Boulevard and go two miles. Turn left onto Pierson Road, travel about one mile and then make a right onto 120th Avenue South. The club is on the right. From Florida’s Turnpike, take Exit 93 (Lake Worth Road) and go west about six miles. Make a right onto 120th Avenue South. The club is on the left.

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