Three Coloradans are the only players under par going into the final round of the boys competition at the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior. Meanwhile, golfers from Canada, Mexico and California hold down the top three spots in the girls event.
Dillon Stewart of Fort Collins, who has verbally committed to play golf for 2018 NCAA champion Oklahoma State starting next year, retained the lead among the boys at Walnut Creek Golf Preserve in Westminster.
Stewart shot his second straight 2-under-par 70 on Wednesday, which leaves him with a two-stroke lead heading into Thursday’s final round. He birdied his first three holes on Wednesday and two of his last three, and finished day 2 with seven birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey.
Davis Bryant of Aurora, who edged Stewart for the 5A boys state high school title in the fall, matched the low round of the tournament with a 3-under-par 69 on Wednesday to check in at 142, two back of Stewart. Bryant, the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado’s 2017 Boys Player of the Year and a Colorado State University signee, carded six birdies and three bogeys on the day.
Rounding out the players under par through 36 holes is Walker Franklin of Broomfield, the 3A state high school runnerup in 2017. He shot a 71 on Wednesday and holds third place at 143. Franklin eagled the 392-yard, par-4 first hole on Wednesday and bogeyed his last, with 16 pars in between.
In the girls competition, Savannah Grewal of Ontario posted her second straight 73 to grab a one-stroke lead at 2-over-par 146. She made a birdie and two bogeys on Wednesday.
Sara Camarena of Mexico City, ranked No. 84 in the girls Rolex AJGA rankings, shares second place at 147 with Paige Harrison of Castaic, Calif. Camarena had a rough finish on Wednesday, going 5 over in her final three holes.
First-round leader Lauren Lehigh of Loveland, the 2017 4A girls state high school champion, holds fourth place at 149 after struggling to a 79 on Wednesday.
Defending champion Hailey Schalk of Erie, winner of the last two 3A state high school titles, posted a second-round 80 and sits at 153, in eighth place.
For the scores for the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior, CLICK HERE.
