Grillo’s been in this position before

Photo by AJGA

Emiliano Grillo finished as the only player under par at Karsten Creek en route to winning the Ping Invitational.

Emiliano Grillo must be having serious déjà vu tonight. After shooting a 5-under 67 Monday in the first round of the AJGA’s Polo Golf Junior Classic, Grillo finds himself in the same position he was in last year: atop the leaderboard.

Only this time he’s trying to erase a bad memory.

In 2008, the Buenos Aires, Argentina, native fired an opening-round 64 featuring six birdies, an eagle and no bogeys. He made two more birdies the next day (offset by a bogey) and earned medalist honors and the top seed heading into match play. But Grillo couldn’t keep the momentum from stroke play and was upset by Matthew Ceravolo, 4 and 3, in the first round.

Ceravolo is in the field again this year (he’s tied for 20th) and Grillo once again shot a bogey-free opening round. But those similarities shouldn’t faze Grillo. He’s proven he knows what it takes to beat the best this year, having won the Ping Invitational in October.

Now Grillo just has to hope his luck in the Polo Golf Junior Classic is better this year – or at least that he doesn’t suffer more déjà vu during match play.