Headed for the Sunshine State

Fifteen junior golfers, including a dozen Coloradans, qualified on Thursday at Flatirons Golf Course in Boulder for the Optimist International Junior Championships.

Earning Optimist International Junior berths on Thursday were, in the boys 16-18 division: U.S. Open Sectional qualifier Daniel Pearson of Longmont (1-under-par 69), John McGinley of Casper, Wyo. (69), Marcus Tait of Littleton (70), Noah Vrencur of Boulder (70), Dillon Stewart of Fort Collins (71) and TJ Shehee of Mead (71).

The boys 16-18 tournament will be held July 30-Aug. 2 in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Nine additional players qualified from the boys 14-15 division: Connor Jones of Westminster (even-par 70), Jack Hughes of Aspen (70), Walker Franklin of Broomfield (71), Jaren Calkins of Lander, Wyo. (71), Dawson Hussong of Montrose (72), Ben Zimmerman of Englewood (73), Ryder Heuston of Louisville (75), Brayden Weiss of Superior (76) and Hardy Johnston of Thermopolis, Wyo. (76).

The boys 14-15 Optimist International tourney is scheduled for July 25-28, also in Palm Beach Gardens.

Another Optimist qualifier — for five other gender/age divisions, will be held Friday at Fitzsimons Golf Course in Aurora.

For complete results, click on the following: BOYS 16-18, BOYS 14-15