WELLINGTON, Florida – Nine-goaler Pepe Heguy scored a team-high six goals, including the game-winner on a 30-yard forehand 1:28 into overtime, to lift Texas Polo over San Saba 12-11 in a first-round match of the 26th annual C.V. Whitney Cup 26-goal polo tournament Saturday at International Polo Club Palm Beach.

Heguy’s goal capped a rally from an 11-8 deficit in the final 3:21 of the sixth chukker.

Seven-goaler Gaston Laulhe started the comeback, converting a pass from 9-goaler Milo Araujo to make the score 11-9. Araujo scored on a 30-yard penalty shot with 1:18 left, setting up Heguy’s heroics.

There were four ties in the game, the last one on Heguy’s tap-in with 34 seconds remaining in regulation. Heguy picked up a loose ball near midfield, dribbled between two defenders and scored despite the efforts of 9-goaler Agustin Merlos.

Araujo and Laulhe scored three goals each for Texas Polo (1-1). Patron Michael Price did not score.

Merlos led San Saba (0-1) with six goals while Toto Collardin scored three goals and Hector Galindo added one goal. Patron Tommy Lee Jones did not score.

Thirteen teams entered the tournament, which is a prelude to the Stanford Financial Group – 100th U.S. Open Polo Championship, the most prestigious polo tournament in North America. The C.V. Whitney Cup final is scheduled for Sunday, March 21 at 3 p.m. at the International Polo Club Palm Beach stadium.

The tournament is named in memory of Cornelius Vanderbilt “Sonny” Whitney, who along with his brother John Hay Whitney, were important polo patrons in the 1930's. The son of Hall of Fame patron Harry Payne Whitney, C.V. won the U.S. Open three times (twice against his brother), and was a renowned owner and breeder of thoroughbred racehorses.

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 or advance tickets, call (561) 204-5687 or visit the club website at www.internationalpoloclub.com.

International Polo Club Palm Beach is located at 3667 120th Avenue South in Wellington. From I-95, take the Forest Hill Boulevard exit and go west approximately 12 miles. Turn left onto South Shore Boulevard and go two miles. Turn left onto Pierson Road, travel about one mile and then make a right onto 120th Avenue South. The club is on the right. From Florida’s Turnpike, take Exit 93 (Lake Worth Road) and go west about six miles. Make a right onto 120th Avenue South. The club is on the left.

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