WELLINGTON, FL - Ten-goaler Mike Azzaro converted a 30-yard penalty shot with 5:11 left in overtime to lift Catamount over Black Watch 12-11 in an opening round game of the 26-goal Stanford Financial Group U.S. Open Polo Championship Thursday at International Polo Club Palm Beach.

In other games, pre-tournament favorite White Birch beat defending champion Isla Carroll 12-4 in a rematch of last year's final and 10-goaler Sebastian Merlos scored 12 goals to lead Lechuza Caracas over Orchard Hill 14-13.

Azzaro's winning goal was set up by a long run by patron Scott Devon, who carried the ball some 200 yards before being fouled.

"It was a tough game," said Azzaro. "We haven't played in two weeks and they (Black Watch) had the quickness. It's tough to play a team that lost in the finals the week before because they're hungry."

Azzaro was impressed with Devon's play, especially in the final two chukkers.

"Scott's only played three 26-goal games all season and he was raised to 4 goals before the season," said Azzaro. "He played solid. That was an awesome run in overtime."

Azzaro almost cost Catamount the game while trying to run out the clock clinging to a one-goal lead. With 11 seconds remaining in front of his goal, Azzaro tried to hit the ball out of bounds, but mishit it. Black Watch controlled it in the corner and Nacho Figueras picked up a pass and scored on a 30-yard forehand at the buzzer.

Azzaro led Catamount (1-0) with seven goals while 10-goaler Carlos Gracida added three goals, and Devon and Jorge Cernadas had one goal apiece. Devon's goal tied the game at 9-9 with 2:59 left in the fifth chukker.

Facundo Pieres led Black Watch (0-1) with five goals while Nacho Figueras added three goals, Gonzalito Pieres scored two goals and patron Neil Hirsch had one goal.

Lechuza Caracas (1-0) took control with six consecutive goals, five by Merlos, in the third and fourth chukkers en route to an 11-6 lead. Orchard Hill battled back with four unanswered goals in the final chukker to cut the margin to 14-13, the final goal a 40-yard forehand by 9-goaler Paco de Narvaez with 1:35 remaining.

Lechuza controlled the ball from the ensuing bowl-in, but committed a foul, giving Orchard Hill possession with 49 seconds left but 270 yards from goal. The moved the ball deep into the offensive zone, but Merlos cleared the ball as time expired.

"Everything is teamwork," said Merlos. "Victor (Vargas) opened the field and Pite's (Merlos) passes were on target. Today we had more horsepower.

"In the end, we relaxed a little bit when we shouldn't have because we might need the goals later on. We tried to save our horses and in the U.S. Open you have to fight to the last breath."

Pite Merlos added two goals for Lechuza Caracas while patron Victor Vargas and Gaston Urturi did not score. De Narvaez led Orchard Hill (0-1) with seven goals while 8-goalers Hector Galindo and Mariano Gonzalez scored three goals apiece. Patron Steve Van Andel did not score.

White Birch jumped out to a 6-3 halftime edge en route to its 10th consecutive 26-goal victory.

Ten-goaler Mariano Aguerre led White Birch (1-0) with five goals while 9-goaler Lucas Criado added four goals. Martin Ravina, substituting for patron Peter Brant, who was out of town on business, scored two goals and Julio Gracida had one goal.

"We played our best horses in the first half," said Aguerre. "We made a couple of mistakes in the first half, and it was close. We didn't make many mistakes in the second half."

Nine-goaler Pancho Bensadon led Isla Carroll with two goals while patron John Goodman and Sugar Erskine scored one goal each. Nicolas Roldan did not score.

The Stanford Financial Group U.S. Open Championship continues Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. when Airstream (1-0) plays Las Monjitas (0-0) followed by Pony Express (0-1) against Bendabout (0-1).

A record-tying 15 teams have entered the 26-goal Stanford Financial Group U.S. Open Championship, the most prestigious polo tournament in North America, highlighting the second season at International Polo Club Palm Beach.

An international field featuring most of the world's best players are vying to lift the historic U.S. Open trophy in triumph at the conclusion of what should be a fantastic finale on Sunday, April 24 at 3 p.m. The tournament is scheduled to begin on March 30.

This year's 15 entrants ties the record set in 2002. Thirteen teams entered the Stanford Financial Group U.S. Open in 2004. New teams this year are Airstream, Black Watch, C Spear and Loro Piana. Teams not returning from last year are San Saba and Texas Polo.

Nine of the world's 14 10-goalers (the sport's maximum rating) are scheduled to play in the tournament - Mariano Aguerre (White Birch), Javier Novillo Astrada (Las Monjitos), Miguel Novillo Astrada (Bendabout), Mike Azzaro (Catamount), Carlos Gracida (Catamount), Bautista Heguy (Pony Express), Pite Merlos (Lechuza Caracas), Sebastian Merlos (Lechuza Caracas) and Adam Snow (Airstream).

Historically, the U.S. Open has always been the grand prize of polo in North America. It is one of only four tournaments played at the 26-goal echelon, the highest-rated tournament in the United States. The first U.S. Open title game was played in 1904 at Van Cortland Park in New York City where the Wanderers defeated the Freebooters 4 ��-3, the lowest scoring final in the history of the tournament.

General admission tickets are $15 and reserved terrace seating tickets are $40 and and available at the gate on the day of the match. For ticket information, please call International Polo Club Palm Beach at (561) 204-5687 or visit the website at www.internationalpoloclub.com.

International Polo Club Palm Beach is located at 3667 120th Avenue South, between Pierson Road and Lake Worth Road in Wellington.