Argentine rides bogey- free 64 to lead
OAKVILLE, Ontario — Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo shot a bogey- free 8- under- par 64 on Thursday to take the first- round lead in the Canadian Open.
Grillo, 22, birdied three of the four par 5s at Glen Abbey. He earned a spot in the field Sunday with a top- 10 finish at the Barbasol Championship in Alabama, just making it in when he birdied the final hole to tie for 10th.
“I played better on the back nine, which is harder, and the greens were drying out,” Grillo said. “I kept hitting some solid shots until the end of the round, and I made some good putts on the back nine.”
He won the Argentine Open last season for his biggest career victory, and lost in a playoff this year at the Puerto Rico Open.
Vaughan Taylor and Brian Harman were a stroke back. Two- time heart transplant recipient Erik Compton was at 66 along with Steve Wheatcroft, Tyrone Van Aswegen and Australian amateur Ryan Ruffels.
Jason Day, coming off a tie for fourth Monday in the British Open, opened with a 68. Bubba Watson also was in the group at 68.
David Hearn and Adam Svensson were the top Canadians at 69.
Former Georgia Tech player Ollie Schniederjans had a 71 in his pro debut. He tied for 12th in the British Open. South Africa’s Tim Clark, the winner last year at Royal Montreal, shot a 72.
Austin Cook ( Jonesboro, Arkansas Razorbacks) had five birdies and a bogey for a 4- under 68. He is tied in a pack for 17th. Ken Duke ( Arkadelphia, Henderson State) had an eagle, three birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey for a 2- over 74.