Near the Top

Coloradans Hunter Swanson, Hadley Ashton, Tyler Long in top 15 of their divisions at Junior World Championships

By Gary Baines - 7/14/2021

Through two days of competition in the San Diego area, three Coloradans sit in the top 15 out of very large fields for their respective age/gender divisions at the prestigious IMG Academy Junior World Championships.

Hunter Swanson of Denver shares fourth place out of 207 players in the boys 15-18 division that’s being played at Torrey Pines South, the course that hosted the U.S. Open last month. Hadley Ashton of Erie is 13th out of 100 competitors among girls 13-14. And Tyler Long of Evergreen is 15th out of 169 in boys 13-14. 

Swanson, the 2020 Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado Boys Player of the Year, backed up his first-round 70 with a 3-over-par 74 on Wednesday, leaving him at 2-over 144 overall. The future University of Colorado golfer trails co-leaders Ian Maspat of San Diego and Jeremy Chen of Taiwan by five. Swanson carded two birdies and five bogeys on Wednesday. 

Ashton posted her second straight 2-over-par 74 and she sits seven strokes back of leader Camille Thai of Los Altos, Calif. Ashton played her final seven holes in 4 under par and finished with four birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Long shot a 76 on day 2, putting him at 3-over 147 and nine back of leader Supapon Amornchaichan of Thailand. Long made two birdies on six bogeys on Wednesday.

Most of the tournaments — aside from the boys and girls 15-18 — will conclude on Thursday. The oldest age division wraps up on Friday.

Here are the scores for all the Coloradans competing at the Junior Worlds:

IMG Academy Junior World Championships

(In San Diego Area)

Boys 15-18 (Tuesday-Friday)

4. Hunter Swanson, Denver 70-74–144

54. Wes Erling, Colorado Springs 73-79–152

65. Jake Chesler, Firestone 75-78–153

73. Matthew Wilkinson, Centennial 79-75—154

Boys 13-14 (Tuesday-Thursday)

15. Tyler Long, Evergreen 71-76—147

106. Roland Thornton, Aurora 81-78—159

138. Kaden Devenport, Fort Collins 83-83–166

144. Jake Dost, Parker 82-85–167

Boys 11-12 (Tuesday-Thursday)

82. Ash Edwards, Boulder 79-86–165

Boys 9-10 (Tuesday-Thursday)

32. Brady Shaw, Pueblo 79-78—157

50. Max Music, Broomfield 84-80–164

55. Braylon Ball, Windsor 83-83–166

69. Doro Wilcox, Denver 92-87–179

Boys 7-8 (Tuesday-Thursday)

25. Eli Dawson, Loveland 83-75–158

51. Jameson Ross, Castle Rock 89-86–175

Girls 15-18 (Tuesday-Friday)

70. Sofia Choi, Littleton 79-76–155

131. Emily Cheng, Colorado Springs 85-79–164

140. Abigail Aeschleman, Highlands Ranch 84-83—167

Girls 13-14 (Tuesday-Thursday)

13. Hadley Ashton, Erie 74-74–148

48. Caitlyn Chin, Greenwood Village 79-78–157

82. Alena Kasanicky, Longmont 80-85–165

94. Hope Torres, Broomfield 94-82–176

Girls 9-10 (Tuesday-Thursday)

43. Scout Fitzgerald, Parker 82-84–166

60. Claire Atzbach, Lone Tree 98-91–189

Girls 6 & Under (field of 10) (Tuesday-Thursday)

9. Madelyn Dickerson, Aurora 81-76—157 (27 over par)

For all the scores from the Junior Worlds, CLICK HERE.