Coloradan Franklin posts fifth-place finish at prestigious Junior Worlds; Hillary notches top-30 showing at national Girls Junior PGA
By Gary Baines – 07/12/2019
While Walker Franklin of Broomfield certainly was hoping to win the IMG Academy Junior World Championships — one of the most prestigious junior tournaments on the planet — on Friday after holding the 54-hole lead, he can certainly take some consolation in this:
With a fifth-place finish in a field of 209 players, Franklin (pictured) earned the best showing by a Coloradan in the boys 15-18 division since Wyndham Clark tied for third as a 15-year-old in 2009.
Of course, Clark eventually became one of the top 15-ranked amateurs in the world, and now is a regular on the PGA Tour, having finished fifth at the 3M Open on Sunday.
Franklin, son of this week’s CGA Women’s Senior Match Play champion Kristine Franklin, shared the lead after 12 holes in Friday’s final round at Torrey Pines North in La Jolla, Calif., but three bogeys in the next four holes dropped him back. He followed up his third-round 65 with a 2-over-par 74 on Friday and ended up with a 72-hole total of 8-under 280.
Franklin, who made two birdies and four bogeys on Friday, finished three strokes behind champion Aidric Jose Chan of the Philippines.
Meanwhile, the national Girls Junior PGA Championship in Hartford, Conn., also wrapped up on Friday, with Cherry Hills Village resident Charlotte Hillary tying for 29th place.
Hillary, twice winner of the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado’s Tour Championship, shot a 2-over-par 72 on Friday, giving her a 1-under-par 279 total for the week. The future Northwestern University golfer ended up 13 strokes behind champion Yuka Saso of the Philippines.
All four Coloradans competing in the Girls Junior PGA made the 36-hole cut.
Below are scores for Coloradans this week at the Junior Worlds and the Girls Junior PGA Championship.
GIRLS JUNIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP IN HARTFORD, CONN.
29. Charlotte Hillary of Cherry Hills Village 68-70-69-72–279
64. Lauren Lehigh of Loveland 74-70-72-74–290
69. Marie Jordaan of Cherry Hills Village 73-71-74-76–294
71. Hailey Schalk of Erie 73-72-75-75–295
IMG ACADEMY JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN SAN DIEGO
Boys 15-18 (Completed on Friday)
5. (out of 209) Walker Franklin of Broomfield 73-68-65-74–280
Missed 54-Hole Cut
124. Jack Hughes of Snowmass Village 72-79-77–208
189. Finn Sapp of Edwards 84-80-79–243
Girls 15-18 (Completed on Friday)
Missed 54-Hole Cut
82. (out of 147) Sofia Choi of Littleton 79-78-75–232
122. Aubri Braecklein of Northglenn 85-79-79–243
136. Brittlynn O’Dell of Grand Junction 86-81-83–250
Boys 13-14 (Completed on Thursday)
86. (out of 179) Wes Erling of Colorado Springs 76-77-79–232
Girls 13-14 (Completed on Thursday)
91. (out of 127) Abigail Aeschleman of Highlands Ranch 76-81-85–242
109. Kaitlin Zingler of Lakewood 79-86-86–251
Boys 11-12 (Completed on Thursday)
158. (out of 159) Elijah Johnson of Denver 113-84-93–290
Girls 11-12 (Completed on Thursday)
50. (out of 96) Hadley Ashton of Erie 80-78-79–237
78. Alexandra Remaklus, Commerce City 86-83-83–252
87. Alena Kasanicky, Longmont 101-87-76–264
Boys 9-10 (Completed on Thursday)
22. (out of 114) Brayden DeStefano of Colorado Springs 78-77-71–226
Girls 9-10 (Completed on Thursday)
75. (out of 82) Jadie Wilson of Denver 97-88-89–274
Boys 7-8 (Completed on Thursday)
47. (out of 84) Brady Shaw of Pueblo 82-85-83–250
61. Ace Espinoza of Denver 85-86-89–260
Boys 6 and Under (Completed on Thursday)
25. (out of 39) Jacob Eagan of Castle Rock 71-68-72–211 (49 over par)