Hadley Ashton of Erie, a 10-year-old who has finished in the top 12 in her age division in two world championship tournaments this summer, grabbed the girls lead Friday in the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado’s 11-13 Junior Series Championship at Eaton Country Club.
Leading the 11-13 boys competition at the halfway point is Max Weisser of Denver. Meanwhile, in the 14-18 Junior Series Championship at the same site, Jack Larson of Arvada is setting the pace for the boys and Jessica Mason of Westminster for the girls.
Ashton, who has won 11 11-13 JGAC tournaments this year, shot a 7-over-par 78 on Friday, making birdie on her final hole. She leads Bead Boonta of Centennial by two strokes heading into Saturday’s final round of the girls 11-13 tournament. Earlier this summer, Ashton finished fifth in the girls 9-10 division at the IMG Academy Junior World Championships, and 12th among 10-year-old girls at the U.S. Kids World Championship.
In the boys 11-13 event in Eaton, the 13-year-old Weisser fired a 1-over-par 72, carding four birdies in the process. Andrew White of Centennial sits in second place after a 74 despite a quadruple-bogey 8 on his final hole.
In the 14-18 tournament, Larson posted a 2-over-par 73, with two birdies on his card. He leads Kaden Ford of Colorado Springs and 2017 runner-up Traejan Andrews of Windsor by two shots each. Ford finished sixth in his age division in the Drive, Chip and Putt Nationals Finals at Augusta National this year.
On the girls side in 14-18, Mason shot a 9-over-par 80. That’s good for a five-stroke advantage over Lois Sheaffer of Greeley.
While the 11-13 and 14-18 events will conclude on Saturday, the entire tournament for players 10 and under will be contested at Heather Gardens Golf Course in Aurora.
For scores from Friday, click on the following: 11-13, 14-18.
