The first Sunday game of this year’s Ylvisaker Cup tournament at the International Polo Club Palm Beach was an evenly played match between Postage Stamp and Travieso on Sunday, Feb. 4.
The first chukker saw both teams score two goals each, but in the second chukker Postage Stamp, led by Mariano Aguerre and Joaquín Panelo, won a narrow advantage over Travieso.
Postage Stamp held the difference into the fourth chukker, where they managed to build a four-goal lead, 10-6. All signs pointed to a seemingly smooth victory for Postage Stamp, but Travieso reacted in the fifth chukker, thanks to fantastic play from Sebastian Merlos, and managed to tie the game 11-11 with only a few minutes left in play.
As the clock ticked away, the last few moments of the game saw Brandon Philips pull through to score the deciding goal, giving Postage Stamp the victory at the wire, 12-11.
Joaquín Panelo was named MVP, while Gato Negro, played by Sebastián Merlos, was honored as Best Playing Pony.
The faceoff was the main event of the day at IPC, held on Engel & Völkers Field, with a notable number of spectators cheering on their favorite teams.
Prior to the match, several other teams made their Ylvisaker Cup debut.
Early in the day, Tonkawa beat GSA 12-7, scoring an average of two goals per chukker versus one from their rivals. At noon, Valiente defeated Coca-Cola 10-6. The game marked the 2018 debut of Adolfo Cambiaso and Bob Jornayvaz, winners of the 2017 U.S. Open.
The Ylvisaker Cup tournament honors the much-beloved Bill Ylvisaker, a former 7-goal player, winner of the U.S. Open and the Coronation Cup, chairman of the United States Polo Association, co-founder of the Polo Training Foundation and one of the developers of Palm Beach Polo & Country Club.
The Ylvisaker Cup continues this weekend at the International Polo Club Palm Beach.
For more information, visit www.internationalpoloclub.com.
