Grillo, Jutanugarn medal at Polo Junior
Emiliano Grillo during the U.S. Junior Amateur.
Emiliano Grillo and Moriya Jutanugarn have secured the top seeds heading into the match-play portion of the Polo Golf Junior Classic. Both players finished atop stroke-play qualifying in their respective divisions Tuesday to take the advantage into the final invitational of the season.
Grillo, a two-time Rolex Junior All-American who already has one invitational title to his name, finished at 6-under 137 to beat Daniel Berger and Cody Proveaux by two shots. Grillo entered the event off an appearance at the World Amateur Team Championship played last month in his native Argentina. He will draw Trey Valentine, a USF commit from Melbourne, Fla., in the first round of match play.
“I just want to keep the ball on the fairway and greens and try to make some putts as always,” Grillo said of his match play strategy. “Last year I got to the quarterfinals. I had to putt like I’m always playing with the winner.”
Oliver Schneiderjans, the defending champion in this event, finished fourth in stroke-play qualifying. The cut for the boys division fell at 148, with 30 players advancing to match play. Matthew Negri, Robby Shelton and Motin Yeung advanced from a seven-for-three playoff to claim the final spots on the bracket.
In the girls’ division, Jutanugarn posted six birdies in Tuesday’s round to hold on to her first-round lead and maintain her advantage. Jutanugarn beat Mariah Stackhouse and Grace Na by three shots. Manon Gidali was fourth at 2-under 141.
“I think today I played okay,” said Jutanugarn. “On the front nine I had three birdies and on the back nine I had one double and two birdies. I think yesterday I hit irons better than today but I had an eight on No. 11 yesterday.”
Jutanugarn will play Ashlan Ramsey in the first round of match play.
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