Chloe and Lucy Barton are used to it when people give them a double take; When you are identical twins, it goes with the territory.
The Barton sisters’territory, though, is on the golf course.
The 13-year old girls from Frelinghuysen Township, eighth graders at Pope John High School in Sparta, these days are making people look twice because they are both quite successful on the golf course.
While their home course is Panther Valley Golf & Country Club in Allamuchy Township, where they are members with their parents, Shelly and Mike Barton, they’ve spent the past few years playing in tournaments throughout the Northeast and, in some cases, further away. This summer, they’ve each attained lofty heights.
Among their accomplishments this year:
Chloe Barton clinched first place overall for the U.S. Kids North Jersey Spring 2018 Tour consisting of six tournaments in her 12-14 age division out of 19 girls, and Lucy Barton placed third overall out of 19 girls; Chloe Barton finished up with an impressive 89 in her last round. Currently for U.S. Kids Hudson Valley NY Summer Tour 2018, it was Lucy Barton’s turn to clinch first in her 12 to 14 age group with an impressive 77 at Redhook, N.Y. Country Club, and her sister placed second in the 12 to 14 age group with a solid 87. A more competitive field, longer yardage, and 12- to 17-year-old age group met the girls at the Peggy Kirk Bell, N.J. PGA and Hurricane National Tour. Highlights are Lucy Barton scoring an 87 through Hurricane at
Architects Golf Club and Chloe Barton scoring an 89 through the N.J. PGA at Clearbrook N.J. Golf Club.
In the spring they finished a two-day U.S. Kids Regional Tournament at Golden Horseshoe in Williamsburg, Va., and as a result will be off to The Caribbean Championship in the Dominican Republic in December.
The girls thank their grandfather for getting them into the game of golf in the first place.
Initially Shelly Barton was hoping that her daughters would get into competitive gymnastics, as she had, but it was soon-enough clear that their interests were elsewhere. The two began golfing when they were just six years old through the inspiration – and guidance early on – of their 91-year-old grandfather.
William “Buzzy” Borie, or “Poppy” as the girls call him, was a club champion at Basking Ridge Country Club in the 1960s. Borie continues to be the girls’ biggest supporter – and fan – as he attends almost every one of their tournaments. In fact, as a big thanks, Chloe Barton gave her grandfather the “Caddy of the Year Award,” after she became Tour Champion for the Spring North Jersey U.S. Kids Section.
Over the years, they’ve worked with PGA Pro Ron Young; LPGA Teaching Professional Wendy Ferrara and PGA Pro David Glenz of the David Glenz Golf Academy; and Panther Valley Pro, Dan McCarthy. The sisters have also enriched their skills and mental game through various clinics
such as the LPGA Girls Golf Nancy Lopez Golf camp in Asheville, N.C., The Annika Clinic at Trump National, and The LPGA Girls Golf Leadership Academy at Westchester Country Club.
At Panther Valley, they hone their skills playing two or three times a week, often with adult women, and sometimes with their parents. They also practice long hours on their short game as well as breaking down their overall game.
“They are two very hard-working girls,” said McCarthy. “They’ve got a lot of potential.”
Do they have their sisterly moments? Of course!
“I do get mad sometimes if Lucy is doing better than me,” admitted Chloe Barton with a smile.
In fact, while they are often paired together in tournaments they prefer to be separated so that they aren’t worrying about who is doing better than the other.
Being noticed is nothing new to the pair. In 2016, both were featured on the Golf Channel and The Morning Drive Show that featured highlights of their golf career and aspirations. And when they are not playing golf, the two might get noticed for another reason — they are actors.
While they both agree that golf comes first and that acting is a hobby, they do have some credits on their acting resume. They will be appearing in “The Other Two” on Comedy Central in
January 2019 with Molly Shannon and Wanda Sykes. And they had parts in the movie,” Killer Clown Meets the Candyman.”
Academically, the Barton twins are excellent students — straight A’s — and have a passion for science, math and also are exceptional in art.
It is unsure where the golf game will ultimately lead them, but their goal right now is to play on a major collegiate golf team after high school, they said.
“Anything after that will be a bonus,” said Shelly Barton.