In Contention

Hadley Ashton of Erie and Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado member Easton Paxton are in the top five of their respective divisions after Wednesday’s second round of the prestigious IMG Academy Junior World Championships in San Diego.

Ashton shares fifth place with one round remaining in the girls 7-8 division. She made one birdie while shooting a 7-over-par 64 in round 2, leaving her at 10-over 124. That puts her eight strokes behind leader Bella Dovhey of Oviedo, Fla.

Paxton, who resides in Riverton, Wyo., and has won three straight 4A individual high school state titles in his home state, jumped into a share of fourth place out of a field of 207 at the halfway point of the boys 15-17 tournament.

Paxton, who has verbally committed to play his college golf at North Carolina State beginning next year, shot a 2-under-par 70 Wednesday, giving him a 1-under 143 total. The 2015 winner of the North and South Junior in Pinehurst, N.C., Paxton trails leader Sam Choi of Anaheim, Calif., by three strokes.

And in the girls 13-14 division, Hailey Schalk of Erie (72-76–148) remains in the top 25, in 24th place.

The action for most of the tournaments will conclude on Thursday, while the oldest boys and girls divisions will continue through Friday.

Here are the scores of all the Coloradans and Junior Alliance of Colorado members competing this week:

Boys 15-17
4. Easton Paxton of Riverton, Wyo. (JGAC member) 73-70–143
149. Dillon Stewart of Fort Collins 81-79–160

Girls 15-17
91. Caroline Jordaan of Cherry Hills Village 81-80–161
111. Lauren Lehigh of Loveland 79-87–166

Boys 13-14
112. Jack Hughes of Snowmass 79-78–157
121. Jordan Jennings of Montrose 80
136. Beam Boonta of Centennial 84-78–162

Girls 13-14
24. Hailey Schalk of Erie 72-76–148
86. Emma Bryant of Aurora 84-79–163
92. Marie Jordaan of Cherry Hills Village 85-82–167

Boys 11-12
48. Brayden Bozak of Gilbert, Ariz. (JGAC member) 73-77–150
116. Luke Olkowski of Grand Junction 86-78–164

Girls 11-12
85. Sofia Choi of Littleton 95-88–183
87. Katelyn Lehigh of Loveland 93-95–188

Boys 7-8
81. Booth Hayes of Frederick 99-105–204

Girls 7-8
5. Hadley Ashton of Erie 60-64–124