ORLANDO, Fla. — Panorama junior Kolby Shackelford is the current Class 2A boys state golf champion. He was second, by a stroke, as a sophomore and placed ninth at the state tournament as a freshman.
The Panther standout has also made a name for himself with several wins and strong performances in his career on the Iowa Junior PGA Tour.
He can now add another accolade, as Shackelford finished in a seven-way tie for 19th place at the National High School Golf Tournament June 27-28 at Walt Disney World Resorts. A total of 172 boys from across the United States participated in the tourney, both as individuals and, in some cases, with their teams. All were state champions — or part of a state championship team — at various levels.
Shackelford shot an even-par 72 on the Palm Course June 27, then fired a three-over par 75 June 28 on the Magnolia Course to finish at 147, or plus-three. Nevada (Iowa) senior Dylan Sporrer shot a 72-75–147 to join Shackelford and six others at three-over. The pair were the lowest players from Iowa.
The Nevada team was 12th overall with a 326-310-636 (+60). The Cubs (and Sporrer) played the two courses in reverse order of Shackelford, playing Magnolia and then Palm.
Virginia (+5), Arkansas (+16) were the two lowest teams, with a pair of Pennsylvania schools tying for third at 22-over. Individual school names were not available.
Three seniors claimed the three lowest individual spots, with New Mexico’s Aidan Thomas (65-70–135) the champion at nine-under. Massachusetts prep James Imai was second at 67-69–136 while Connor Gaunt of Arkansas was third with a 67-70–137. School names were not available.
