Perhaps it’s a very good omen.
The only 8-year-old to win the girls title in the CJGA 10 & Under Junior Series Championship had been Elizabeth Wang of Parker, who accomplished the feat in the tournament’s inaugural year, 2008.
Wang, you may have heard, has had a meteoric career as a junior golfer. Now a Californian, she just last week won the national Junior PGA Championship. And on Wednesday, the now-15-year-old beat All-Pac-12 player Mariah Stackhouse of Stanford to advance to the round of 32 at the U.S. Women’s Amateur. (Wang ended up making the round of 16 before being eliminated.)
But as of this week, Ashleigh Wilson (above) of Highlands Ranch can dream of a similar junior career in golf. Wilson on Wednesday matched Wang’s feat by winning the CJGA 10 & Under Junior Series Championship as an 8-year-old.
When apprised of what Wang has done after winning the 2008 CJGA title, Wilson said, “Seriously? That’s cool.”
Wilson, a third grader-to-be at Skyview Academy in Highlands Ranch, rallied from a three-stroke deficit going into the second nine holes to shoot a 76 overall and post a one-stroke victory Wednesday at the Les Fowler Par-3 Course at Boulder Country Club.
“This is really special because I’m 8 — not 9 or 10” like most of the other competitors, Wilson said.
Boulder’s own Liam Wood (left) prevailed in a three-person playoff to claim the boys crown. Wood, 10, two-putted for par from 10 feet on the first extra hole to overcome Nic Pevny of Aspen and Blake Sullivan of Castle Pines, who both missed the green and made bogey on the 19th hole of the day.
Wood, a fifth grader at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic School, shot a 13-over-par 67 for two trips around the Fowler Course, with Pevny and Sullivan matching that number. The left-hander overcame five double bogeys to claim the championship, including one on the last hole of regulation. But he also recorded two “sandys” — both on the front nine.
“I was a little bit nervous (going into the playoff), but I was happy at the same time,” said Wood, who scored his second CJGA victory of the season. Then when he prevailed on the first sudden death hole, “it was really awesome,” he noted.
Like the boys tournament, the girls went right down to the wire as three other players joined Wilson in breaking 80.
Chunya Bead Boonta of Centennial fired a 77 for second place. Timbre Shehee of Mead, daughter of two Colorado PGA professionals, including head professional Terra Shehee at Boulder Country Club, placed third at 78. Defending champion Anna Jordaan of Cherry Hills Village was fourth at 79.
Wilson (left, celebrating making a long putt) said she wanted to know how she stood coming down the stretch — two girls groups had already finished — but her parents told her to focus on her own business.
“I think they wanted me to just do my thing and just not worry about it,” Wilson said after notching her second CJGA win of the year.
Among those in attendance Wednesday was a former Junior Series Champion, Jake Staiano, a Hale Irwin Elite Player who was helping to score at the event. Staiano, who will begin his college golf career at Colorado State next month, departs on Friday for next week’s U.S. Amateur in Olympia Fields, Ill.
The 10 & Under tournament marked the last of three CJGA Junior Series Championships. Last week at The Ranch Country Club, Coby Welch and Mary Weinstein of Highlands Ranch won the titles in the 14-18 age group. And Tuesday, Jordan Jennings of Montrose and Katie Berrian of Castle Rock prevailed in the 11-13 championship.
CJGA 10 & Under Junior Series Championship
At Par-54 Les Fowler Course at Boulder CC
Boys
(x-won sudden-death playoff)
x-Liam Wood, Boulder, Colo. 32-35–67
Blake Sullivan, Castle Pines, Colo. 35-32–67
Nic Pevny, Aspen, Colo. 32-35–67
Yusuke Ogi, Arvada, Colo. 37-33–70
Benjamin Chin Jr., Greenwood, Colo. 34-38–72
Bielly Phasay, Commerce City, Colo. 40-35–75
Eshaan Reddy Paianati, Aurora, Colo. 35-40–75
Camden Braidech 40-37–77
Ryan Woodley, Fort Collins, Colo. 45-35–80
Ian Hunn, Fort Collins, Colo. 42-40–82
Will Balliet, Thornton, Colo. 44-41–85
Grant Taylor, Fort Collins, Colo. 42-44–86
Lucas Peavler, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 48-42–90
Luke Kusserow, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 49-41–90
Scott Thompson, Greeley, Colo. 41-50–91
Dylan Frechette, Denver, Colorado 50-48–98
Girls
Ashleigh Wilson, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 40-36–76
Chunya Bead Boonta, Centennial, Colo. 39-38–77
Timbre Shehee, Mead, Colorado 37-41–78
Anna Jordaan, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. 41-38–79
Jasmine Kahler, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 43-40–83
Caitlyn Chin, Greenwood, Colo. 48-43–91
Reece Bandemer, Loveland, Colo. 54-56–110
Isabella Meraz, Thornton, Colo. 70-72–142
