Grillo Wins in Runaway; Morris Edges Tanco in Playoff

Rachel Morris tees off at the 17th hole during her final round, and Emiliano Grillo cruised through his final round after building a substantial lead.

Emiliano Grillo of Resistencia, Argentina, and Rachel Morris of Carlsbad, Calif., are the 2009 PING Invitational champions.

Grillo ran away with the Boys Division title, playing so well over three days that even a water hazard-induced double-bogey at the 54th and final hole couldn't derail him. Grillo was the only player below par, finishing at 1-under-par for the tournament to win by three shots.

Morris started the day one stroke behind defending champion Victoria Tanco, but fired 1-under-par in the Girls Division versus Tanco's even-par round.

Morris and Tanco entered the final hole of regulation tied, and each made a clutch birdie on the par-5 18th to force a sudden-death playoff. Playing the par-4 10th hole, Morris split the fairway wwith her drive, as Tanco found the right rough and couldn't reach the green with her second shot. Morris, however, hit the green, then drained her putt for birdie and the victory.

It was the first AJGA Invitational victories for both 17-year-olds, and perhaps especially sweet for Morris, who played with Tanco in last year's final round of this event, which Tanco won. And with her victory, she also thwarted a possible Argentinian sweep of the first-place trophies.

Scenes from the Morning of the Final Round

(Top left) An intermittent light drizzle of rain greeted players Monday morning, as Payne Denman tried to keep his clubs dry while warming up on the driving range. (Top right) Ben An takes a look at The PING Invitational trophy as it rests at the first tee. (Bottom) Bobby Wyatt hits the day's first tee shot as the final round gets under way.

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