Eight Coloradans punched their tickets over the last two days to one of the most prestigious junior golf tournaments in the world.
Among those making the grade on Wednesday in the 15-18 qualifying tournaments for the IMG Academy Junior World Championships were both Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado 2017 Players of the Year, Davis Bryant of Aurora and Hailey Schalk of Erie.
The Junior Worlds are scheduled for July 10-13 in the San Diego area.
Bryant advanced by finishing second in the boys 15-18 qualifier at Broadlands Golf Course in Broomfield, while Schalk placed first in the girls 15-18 tournament at her home course, Colorado National Golf Club in Erie.
Cal McCoy of Highlands Ranch, a University of Denver recruit, earned medalist honors at Broadlands with a 5-under-par 139 total for two days (71-68). In making his first Junior Worlds, the Colorado State University-bound Bryant went 70-70–140 for the second and final spot in his division.
In the girls 15-18 tournament at Colorado National, Schalk and University of Colorado recruit Kelsey Webster of Boulder earned the available national berths. Schalk carded scores of 71-66 for a 7-under-par 137 total over two days and went bogey-free on Wednesday. Webster, who finished third earlier this month in the 5A girls state high school tournament, shot a 5-under-par 31 on the front nine Wednesday en route to a 67 and a 140 total.
On Tuesday at Colorado National, Jessica Mason of Westminster and Sofia Choi of Littleton advanced in the girls 13-14 division. Mason led the way in the qualifier with a 3-over-par 75, while Choi shot a 76 and won a playoff with Kaylee Chen of Denver. And in the girls 11-12 tournament at the same course, Caitlyn Chin of Greenwood Village (9-over-par 81) and Brooke Hudson of Parker (84) are headed to San Diego.
Another Coloradan who also is bound for Junior Worlds is Hadley Ashton of Erie, 11, who earlier qualified in Texas.
Qualifying for several other age/gender divisions will take place within within the next week. Boys 13-14 and 11-12 will play Friday at Indian Tree Golf Course in Arvada, with two berths at stake in each division. And on June 6 at Family Sports in Centennial, boys and girls 7-8 and 9-10 will tee it up, with one national spot at stake in each division except boys 9-10, where there will be two.
Here are the qualifiers from Tuesday and Wednesday’s tournaments:
Boys 15-18
Tuesday and Wednesday at Broadlands GC in Broomfield
Cal McCoy, Highlands Ranch 71-68–139
Davis Bryant, Aurora 70-70–140
Girls 15-18
Tuesday and Wednesday at Colorado National GC in Erie
Hailey Schalk, Erie 71-66–137
Kelsey Webster, Boulder 73-67–140
Girls 13-14
Tuesday at Colorado National GC in Erie
Jessica Mason, Westminster 75
Sofia Choi, Littleton 76 (won playoff)
Girls 11-12
Tuesday at Colorado National GC in Erie
Caitlyn Chin, Greenwood Village 81
Brooke Hudson, Parker 84
