Reigning Utah 5A state high school champion Connor Howe grabbed sole possession of the lead, but several Coloradans remained in striking distance after Wednesday’s second round of the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior, presented by Huntington Industrial Partners, being played at Highlands Ranch Golf Club.
Within six strokes of Howe heading into Thursday’s final round are AJ Ott of Fort Collins (who trails by three), Trevor Olkowski of Grand Junction (four back), Timothy Amundson of Littleton (five behind), and Philip Lee of Denver, Oliver Jack of Cherry Hills Village, first-round co-leader Isaac Petersilie of Colorado Springs, Jackson Solem of Longmont and Troy Dangler of Grand Junction (all six back).
In the girls competition, Clare Amelia Legaspi of Santa Clarita, Calif., holds a one-stroke lead, with a couple of Coloradans in the top 10 after two rounds.
Fourteen-year-old Hailey Schalk of Erie is in sixth place, seven behind Legaspi, and Caroline Jordaan of Cherry Hills Village is another shot back, sharing ninth place.
Legaspi, No. 74 among girls in the Polo rankings, has posted rounds of 70-71 for a 3-under-par 141 total, one stroke better than Lauren Beaudreau of Lemont, Ill. (71-71).
Schalk has gone 72-76, while Jordaan has carded rounds of 74-75.
In boys action, Howe has racked up 14 birdies in two rounds, posting scores of 66-70 for an 8-under-par 136 total. He’s one up on Tyler Parker (70-67) of Knoxville, Tenn., going into Thursday’s final 18.
Ott, who tied for third at last year’s AJGA Irwin Junior, sits in that same spot after two days. The Colorado State University signee has gone 69-70, chalking up 10 birdies in two rounds.
The boys leaders will tee off on Thursday at 12:10 p.m., while the top girls will start at 11:20 a.m.
For boys scores from the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior, CLICK HERE.
For girls results, CLICK HERE.
