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Las Monjitas and White Birch Win in Stanford U.S. Open Polo Championship

April 2, 2008

WELLINGTON, FL - White Birch and Las Monjitas began their quest for a second Stanford U.S. Open Polo Championship title with victories today at International Polo Club Palm Beach. White Birch, the 2005 champion, beat Pony Express 12-10 and Las Monjitas who won in 2006, outgunned underdog Lechuza Caracas 13-11.

The day's opening contest saw Lechuza Caracas match Las Monjitas goal for goal through four chukkers of play. With the score tied at eight it looked as though the under rated foursome might be the sleeper everyone is looking for. But, Las Monjitas showed its Gold Cup Champion form in the fifth and sixth chukkers by scoring five consecutive goals before Lechuza could answer with only three and fell short of the victory 13-11. Javier Astrada led his Las Monjitas squad with six goals and Sapo Caset of Lechuza also finished with six in the losing effort.

Lucas Monteverde of White Birch scored three of his game high seven in the final chukker to break a nine goal deadlock and give his team the opening round victory. Matias Magrini rated at 10 goals on Pony Express finished the day with six but was completely shut out in the final two chukkers by the strong defensive play of White Birch's Peter Brant who also added a goal
to his team total in the second chukker. .

Stanford U.S. Open Polo action will continue on Friday April 4, 2008 when Isla Carroll plays Skeeterville at noon in a battle of the opening round undefeateds from the North American Polo League and Bendabout plays Zacara at 3:00 PM.

International Polo Club Palm Beach is located at 3667 120th Avenue South in Wellington and hosts professional polo tournaments until the finals of the Stanford U.S. Open Polo Championship, Sunday, 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

LAS MONJITAS 3-1-1-3-4-1=13 (6 penalty goals) Javier Astrada 6
LECHUZA CARACAS 2-0-3-3-0-3=11 (1 penalty goal) Sapo Caset 6

WHITE BIRCH 2-2-4-0-1-3=12 (5 penalty goal) Lucas Monteverde 7
PONY EXPRESS 3-1-3-2-0-1=10 (4 penalty goal) Matias Magrini 6

Click Here for the updated schedule, scores and rosters of the Stanford U.S. Open Polo Championship.