Ylvisaker Cup Begins Friday, January 28th With 16 Teams
By Y.A. Teitelbaum
Jan. 25, 2005

WELLINGTON, FL -- Sixteen teams, the largest field of the season, have entered the 22-goal Ylvisaker Cup, which begins with a tripleheader on Friday, January 28th at International Polo Club Palm Beach.

The first game starts at 10:30 a.m. when Mokarow Financial, featuring 10-goaler Carlos Gracida and 8-goaler Rookie Ballieu, takes on Pony Express, led by 8-goalers Alex Agote and Pablo MacDonough.

Top contenders include Crab Orchard, led by high-scoring Agustin Merlos, as well as Joe Barry Cup finalists Lechuza Caracas and Millarville. Crab Orchard defeated Black Watch 13-8 in last year’s final.

Several of the teams, including Bendabout, Black Watch and White Birch, are using this tournament to prepare for the upcoming ultra-competitive 26-goal season. For others, including San Saba, Crab Orchard and Goshen, this is the end of their winter season.

Teams were split into four divisions and will play three qualifying games with the top two teams in each of the divisions advancing to the quarterfinals. The quarterfinals are scheduled for Saturday, February 12 and Sunday, February 13. The semifinals are set for Thursday, February 17 and the final is Sunday, February 20 at 3 p.m.

The Ylvisaker Cup in named in honor of William T. “Bill” Ylvisaker, a polo pioneer who founded Palm Beach Polo and Country Club in the late 1970s and was elected into the Polo Hall of Fame in 1996. Ylvisaker has won numerous major polo tournaments, including the prestigious U.S. Open in 1972.

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