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BENDABOUT BEATS LAS MONJITAS - QUARTERFINAL FIELD SET IN PIAGET GOLD CUP

March 14, 2008

WELLINGTON, FL – Bendabout sealed its spot in the quarterfinal round of the USPA Piaget Gold Cup tournament by defeating Las Monjitas 10-9 today at International Polo Club Palm Beach. The field of 12 teams has now been narrowed to eight with the remaining four playing in the Butler Handicap.

Today's game was a seesaw battle for the bracket championship as both teams led an equal number of chukkers before Bendabout scored three times in the fifth to go ahead 10-7 while holding Las Monjitas scoreless. Las Monjitas attempted the comeback in the final chukker on goals by Eduardo and Javier Astrada but fell one short. Mariano Gonzalez playing for Bendabout led his team with four penalty goals. Javier Astrada playing for Las Monjitas equaled that tally but scored one from the field and converted three penalty goals.

Sunday, March 16 the remaining eight will square off in the quarterfinal round. Undefeated and defending champion Crab Orchard will play newcomer Zacara at 10 am, Isla Carroll 2-0 will face Las Monjitas 1-1 at noon as will Skeeterville and Pony Express both 1-1. The 3 pm game on the Stanford Field and Stadium will see Bendabout 2-0 go against Black Watch 1-1.

In conjunction with the Piaget Gold Cup another USPA sanctioned tournament the Butler Handicap will be played between the four other teams who competed in the playoff rounds of the Gold Cup. The Butler Family offered this coveted trophy to International Polo Club Palm Beach in honor of Paul Butler whose Oak Brook Polo Club outside Chicago, Illinois provided high goal polo in the fifty's, sixty's and seventy's. This coveted cup was played as a national tournament for 31 years. On Tuesday, March 18 Audi will play White Birch and Orchard Hill rides against Lechuza Caracas in the semi final round of the Butler. The Butler Handicap Final will be played Sunday March 23 prior to the USPA Piaget Gold Cup Final.

This is the second year the Piaget Gold Cup has been played at International Polo Club. The USPA Gold Cup has been played since 1974 and is one of only three polo tournaments rated at 26 goals in the United States. The other two are the C.V. Whitney and the Stanford U.S. Open Polo Championship.

International Polo Club Palm Beach is located at 3667 120th Avenue South in Wellington and hosts professional polo tournaments until April 20. The premier game of the week is played at 3 PM every Sunday on the Stanford Field and Stadium. Information can be obtained by calling 561-204-5687 or the Polo Hotline for game updates at 561-282-5290. Web address, www.internationalpoloclub.com or www.northamericanpololeague.com

BENDABOUT 1-1-3-2-3-0=10 (5 penalty goals) Mariano Gonzalez 4
LAS MONJITAS 3-1-2-1-0-2=9 (4 penalty goals) Javier Astrada 4

Click Here for the updated USPA Piaget Gold Cup Roster and Schedule