Hadley Ashton of Erie may be young, but the future certainly looks promising.
On Thursday, Ashton capped a steady performance by finishing fifth out of 50 competitors in the girls 7-8 division at the prestigious IMG Academy Junior World Championships in San Diego.
Ashton, 8, made two birdies on Thursday and shot a 6-over-par 63, giving her a 16-over-par 187 total for the three-day tournament. That left her a dozen strokes behind winner Bella Dovhey of Oviedo, Fla., but just four out of second place.
Ashton was one of more than a dozen Coloradans and/or Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado members who concluded play on Thursday at Junior Worlds.
Joining her in posting a top-30 finish was fellow Erie resident Hailey Schalk, who placed 26th in the girls 13-15 division.
(Updated July 15) One more player that fits into the local group, JGAC member Easton Paxton of Riverton, Wyo., wrapped up play on Friday after easily making the cut in the boys 15-17 division. Paxton, a three-time Wyoming 4A state high school individual champion, finished in 11th place.
Consecutive rounds of 2-over-par 74 Thursday and Friday left him at 3-over 291 overall. Paxton ended up 15 strokes behind champion Joaquin Niemann of Chile.
Here are the scores of all the Coloradans and Junior Alliance of Colorado members competing this week:
Boys 15-17
11. Easton Paxton of Riverton, Wyo. (JGAC member) 73-70-74-74–291
MC. Dillon Stewart of Fort Collins 81-79-82–242
Girls 15-17
MC. Caroline Jordaan of Cherry Hills Village 81-80-82–243
MC. Lauren Lehigh of Loveland 79-87-82–248
Boys 13-14
107. Jordan Jennings of Montrose 80-75-76–231
125. Jack Hughes of Snowmass 79-78-80–237
138. Beam Boonta of Centennial 84-78-83–245
Girls 13-14
26. Hailey Schalk of Erie 72-76-75–223
84. Marie Jordaan of Cherry Hills Village 85-82-78–245
93. Emma Bryant of Aurora 84-79-86–249
Boys 11-12
36. Brayden Bozak of Gilbert, Ariz. (JGAC member) 73-77-72–222
Luke Olkowski of Grand Junction 86-78–164
Girls 11-12
83. Sofia Choi of Littleton 95-88-85–268
88. Katelyn Lehigh of Loveland 93-95-94–282
Boys 7-8
79. Booth Hayes of Frederick 99-105-88–292
Girls 7-8
5. Hadley Ashton of Erie 60-64-63–187
