Duke Buchan’s Longfield Farm Wins Prestigious Palm Beach Polo World Cup Championship
Longfield Farm won the historic World Cup Polo Championship Saturday at Palm Beach Polo against Catamount, 12-8.
Led by Most Valuable Player Facundo Obregon, Longfield Farm led from start to finish to capture the coveted title in the 16-goal final.
For both Wellington-based Longfield Farm and the World Cup it was a renaissance celebration. It marked the return of the World Cup, started in 1979 and last played in 1995 at the Palm Beach Polo and Country Club.
And, after three years away from tournament action, Longfield Farm and team captain Duke Buchan III of Palm Beach was back in action with a powerhouse team.
The team featured Argentine Open Most Valuable Player Mariano Aguerre, 16-year-old high school sensation Juancito Bollini, Obregon and Buchan playing against Roberto Zedda, Pablo Spinacci, Fernando Asenjo and Scott Devon.
“This was the rebirth of the trophy,” said Buchan, surrounded by family and friends. “Catamount was a pleasure to play against. I am happy to be back in the saddle.”
Buchan and his wife Hannah, an accomplished equestrian and polo player, have been away from the polo scene devoting time to their three young children, travelling the world with them for the past 18 months on an educational tour.
When Buchan and his family recently returned from Morocco he heard about the World Cup event and decided to return to the polo field. He put the team together with Aguerre’s help.
“Our team performed very well,” Aguerre said. “It’s actually the first time we played together and we had nice chemistry. Facundo and Juancito have great futures ahead of them. I am very proud of them and it was nice to get our hands back on this trophy. This is great for the sport and great for us.”
Aguerre, rated at 9 goals in the U.S. and 10 goals in Argentina after winning the 2012 Argentine Open for the ninth time, has won the World Cup five times.
Facundo, rated at six goals, was dominating throughout the game. By the second chukker,
Longfield Farm led 5-2, controlling the tempo of the game. Longfield Farm led by as many as five goals (10-5) early in the fifth chukker.
“I thought we had a very good team because of our experience,” said the 23-year-old Obregon. “Mariano Aguerre is one of the best. We followed Mariano’s strategy. Duke is very competitive and we used him a lot. He made a couple nice runs and scored. Juancito helped a lot as well. The team was phenomenal.”
“We always try to win,” Obregon said. “Every time we play we play to win. This whole team should be the MVP.”
For Bollini, making his 16-goal tournament debut, it was a thrill to play with Aguerre, Obregon and Buchan.
“The more polo, the better. It helps my confidence,” Bollini said. “Every time I play it’s an opportunity to get better and to compete. This is a great team and my first time playing 16-goal polo. It was an honor playing with Duke, Mariano and Facundo. I had a lot of fun.”
Aguerre’s 8-year-old horse Machitos Jackie was named Best Playing Pony. Buchan’s horse Pastora was named Best Playing Pony Amateur. Devon, rated at 2 goals, was named Best Amateur Player.
“Philanthrophy is important to our family and we are thrilled to help the Wounded Warrior Project,” commented Buchan.
Proceeds from the game benefitted the Wounded Warrior Project which helps to honor and empower wounded service members across the nation.
Wounded Warrior Project helps to raise awareness and enlists the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members; helped injured service members aid and assist each other; and provides direct programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members.