PANORA — Panorama sophomore Kolby Shackelford made the Lake Panorama National course his own playground Saturday, scorching the course for a six-under par 66 to win medalist honors at the Hal Rossow Invitational by a stunning 14 strokes.
The event is named in honor of the legendary Panther coach who retired after last season, and doubtless both he and current coach David Van Ahn were duly impressed with the card provided by the sophomore standout.
Shackelford was the PGA Regional Champion last year at age 15 and was 13th overall at the state tourney for the third-place Panthers. He was also the PGA regional titleist at ages 11 and 13.
Saturday he showed why, overcoming a single bogey with three birdies on the front nine, then landing a trio of birdies on the back nine.
His fantastic round of 33-33–66 helped Panorama shoot a 336, the same score tallied by Kuemper Catholic, who won a tiebreaker with a lower fifth score. Nevada was only a stroke back, at 337, with WCV (375), Earlham (377), South Hamilton (382), CR-B (393), Audubon (405), the Panorama junior varsity (423), and AC/GC (470) also in action.
Nate Mertz of Kuemper was the runner-up medalist with an 80, with Kuemper’s Jared Tigges tying Nevada’s Dylan Sporrer for third when both shot rounds of 81. Trenton Golay of CR-B and James Carsrud of Nevada split fifth place after each finished at 83.
Jacob Iseminger had a 43-43–86 for Panorama, with Dylan Douglass shooting a 48-42–90 and Ryan Klinge a 49-45–94. Also playing for the varsity, but not having their scores used, were Trey Cobb (44-51–95) and Wyatt Appleseth (48-50–98).
Mertz (41-39–80) led Kuemper and Sporrer (42-39–81) Nevada, with Golay (40-43–83) pacing CR-B. Ben Clement (45-40–85) was the low score for Earlham, with Dylan Obermeier (40-47–97) low for Audubon and McKlain Jorgensen (48-62–110) low for AC/GC. Garret Caltrider’s 85 paced WCV, with South Hamilton led by the 91 from Jared Ullestad.
Flynn Bloek (48-50–98) led the Panther JV, with Lucas Leiferman (53-51–104), Connor Powell (55-54–109) and Malachi Peasley (56-56–112) also scoring. Ethan Hafner (60-60–120) and Bli Wearmouth (58-64–122) also played the circuit for the hosts.
The team returns to action Tuesday when they join the Panther girls and both Des Moines Christian squads for a coed triangular at the WCV, to be played at the 5×80 course in Menlo.
