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SYRACUSE — Jackson Shelley proved that "consistency is key" during the 5A boys state golf championship at Glen Eagle Golf Course.
Shelley, a senior at Skyline High, led his team to victory Tuesday, finishing first individually with an impressive 13-under par. His steady performance over the two-day tournament lifted Skyline to both the individual and team titles.
Shelley set the pace early on Monday when the tournament began, and finished the first round at 14-under, distancing himself from the field. East High's Sean Lampropoulos trailed in second place at 1-under, but Shelley's dominance was already clear.
"I just kept hitting greens and hitting fairways, and kept the ball in play as much as I could," Shelley said.
His approach and ability to stay composed under pressure proved crucial, particularly on the final day.
On Tuesday, Shelley closed out the tournament with a 4-under 68, highlighted by 10 birdies and three eagles over the two rounds. His consistency not only secured his individual title but was key to Skyline's team victory, as well.
Skyline's lineup, featuring the Shelley brothers — Jackson and Austin — Jake DeBry, Shane Mulvey, Jackson Morgan, and Caden Shurtz, finished the tournament at 23-under.
"Our guys are always practicing, always working together," said Skyline coach Cade Robertson. "Consistency was key. We prepared for this, and all that hard work paid off."
While Shelley took center stage, there were plenty of other standout performances from the championship.
Salem Hills freshman Carson Peterson made a surge on the final day to finish second overall, where he scored a 9-under for the tournament, clawing his way up the leaderboard after a relatively quiet start. Peterson tallied five birdies in the second day.
Rounding out the individual top three was Lampropoulos, who finished at 8-under. As a senior with a bright future ahead, Lampropoulos had four eagles and six birdies over the two-day competition, demonstrating the kind of talent that has earned him a spot at the University of Oregon next season.
His efforts also helped secure East High's third-place finish in the team competition.
Woods Cross, tied with East at 7-under, took second place as a team. With eight birdies and eight eagles, they proved to be a formidable contender but ultimately couldn't keep pace with Skyline's dominant performance.
Though the competition was fierce, Skyline stood out as the dominant team, securing both the individual and team titles.
As for Shelley, who is bound for BYU next year, the championship represents the perfect capstone to a stellar high school career. His composure, skill, and leadership will undoubtedly be missed by the Skyline team, but his legacy will remain etched in Utah high school golf history.
With Shelley leading the charge, Skyline proved that not only can they play under pressure, but they can thrive — and win — when it matters most.
