Polito Pieres and Marianito Obregon. Photos: Liz Lamont Images/Phelps Media Group.
Polito Pieres Is a Polo Powerhouse
Wellington, FL – January 7, 2015 – The second tournament of the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC) season, the Joe Barry Memorial Cup, got underway on a glorious day on the Everglades field. Both sides of the field were lined with spectators of polo enthusiasts.
Villa del Lago and Merchant Hub met today to battle it out in the first leg of the three-week tournament. The Villa del Lago team was edged out of the final of the Herbie Pennell Cup at the sold-out Sunday opening of the IPC season.
“We were a little bit frustrated about the final last Sunday,” said Polito Pieres, who plays the number three position on the Villa del Lago team. “We played three chukkers really well and three chukkers really badly.”
The Merchant Hub team started with a one-goal advantage to offset the player rankings. Immediately into the first chukker, an infraction was called on the Merchant Hub team and Polito Pieres scored on a Penalty 4 shot for Villa del Lago, tying it up at 1-1. Then, Facundo Obregon scored for the Merchant Hub taking it to 2-1 and almost immediately Augustin Obregon had a huge nearside fore shot taking it to the goal mouth evening up the score once again to 2-2.
In the next drive, Pieres sent an incredible pass to A. Obregon who put it through the uprights and took Villa del Lago into the lead, which they solidly held for the rest of the game. At the end of the chukker, Pieres converted a Penalty 2, bringing the score to 5-2 in favor of Villa de Lago.
In the second chukker, Luis Escobar slammed a Penalty 6 shot through the goal posts for Merchant Hub making the score 5-3. A whistle resulted in a Penalty shot from the spot, Pieres easily scored and it was now 6-3. In the next drive Pieres sent a lofty shot to A. Obregon, who capitalized on the perfect pass with another goal. Another whistle and a call against Merchant Hub gave Pieres an opportunity to score, which he nailed. At the end of the second chukker the score was 8-3, with Villa del Lago leading.
The third chukker began with a score by Julian de Lusaretta. Escobar responded with an accurate pass to Scott Swerdlin who successfully put the ball through the goal posts for Merchant Hub. But another two masterfully executed scores by Pieres culminated in the score of 11-4 at the end of the half.
Pieres was unstoppable in the fourth chukker. First, he hit an angled shot from approximately 90 yards out directly into the goalmouth. He followed that with two more goals. Facundo Obregon responded with a goal for Merchant Hub, but they had a long way to go to catch Villa del Lago. At the final horn of chukker four the score was 14-5.
Escobar was hot in the fifth chukker, firing off a score, then a cut shot to Marianito Obregon, who scored. Pieres sent another penalty shot through the uprights, and then de Lusaretta took the ball through. The score was now 16-7 going into the final chukker.
Escobar continued his streak in the final chukker scoring three times, but it was too little, too late. A. Obregon and Pieres added one score each for Villa del Lago. The final score was 18-10.
“Today we played with more patience,” said Pieres. “It was not as fast, but it was an open game. I am really happy the team is playing really well. We played more as a team and it was a good result.”
At International Polo Club Palm Beach the Joe Barry Memorial Cup continues Thursday at 10 a.m. with Coca-Cola vs. Orchard Hill and at 1 p.m. with Luchuza Caracas vs. Enigma.
International Polo Club Palm Beach Fast Facts
What: Created by players for players, the International Polo Club Palm Beach was born out of the dream to build a facility to showcase the incredible skills of the ponies and players that dominate the sport.
Members and guests enjoy panoramic views of the action from field side box seats or lawn and terrace seating. Sponsors and fans convene at The Winners Circle to congratulate the players during the awards presentation following the games.
Gourmet brunches, après polo celebrations and the prerequisite charitable events will take place in The Pavilion, designed to accommodate large parties, corporate clients, as well as family and friends.
Featured Highlights:
Herbie Pennell Cup – 20 Goal
Jan. 1-4, 2015
Joe Barry Memorial Cup – 20 Goal
Jan. 4-25, 2015
Ylvisaker Cup – 20 Goal
Jan. 28 – February 22, 2015
Iglehart Cup – 20 Goal
Feb. 28 – March 8, 2015
USPA C. V. Whitney Cup – 26 Goal
Feb. 15 – March 1, 2015
Piaget USPA Gold Cup® – 26 Goal
March 4-22, 2015
111th Maserati U.S. Open Polo Championship® – 26 Goal
March 25 – April 19, 2015
Directions:
From the Turnpike:
Take the Lake Worth Exit
Head west on FL-802 W/Lake Worth Rd toward Hooks Rd
Continue to follow Lake Worth Rd (3.9 miles)
Turn right onto 120th Ave S
Destination will be ahead on the left (0.4 miles)
From I-95:
Exit Forest Hill Blvd, head West
Make Left turn onto 441/St Rd 7
Make Right turn onto Lake Worth Rd
Make Right turn onto 120th Ave S
Destination on Left
Information:
3667 120th Ave S, Wellington, FL 33414
International Polo Club Palm Beach: 561-204-5687
Mallet Grille: 561-282-5340
Spa & Fitness Center: 561-282-5288
Tennis Pro Shop: 561-795-7228
Polo Operations Office: 561-282-5283
Polo Hotline: 561-282-5290
Website:
www.internationalpoloclub.com
For Tickets:
http://internationalpoloclub.ticketleap.com/
Hotels:
Hampton Inn & Suites – (561) 472-9696 – Approximately 2 miles
Hampton Inn – (561) 472-5980 – Approximately 4 miles
Four Seasons Resort – (561) 582-2800 – Approximately 9 miles
The Breakers – (561) 655-6611 – Approximately 9 miles
Kimpton Tideline Ocean Resort & Spa – (561) 540-6440 – Approximately 9 miles
Management:
John Wash – President of Club Operations
jwash@internationalpoloclub.com
561-282-5353
MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com