Shackelford focused on college golf after great career at Panorama HS
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (BVM) — For the Class of 2020, the end of high school and the beginning of college has been anything but normal. This includes Kolby Shackelford.
As he was moving in at Kirkwood Community College the week of Aug. 17, he did so without power. The derecho that had hit the week before was still having an affect on the Cedar Rapids area.
Before even the derecho had hit, Shackelford had already been feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It had ended his high school golf career early.
However, Shackelford has accepted it and now focuses on all the great memories from playing for the Panorama High School boys golf team.
鈥淚鈥檓 pretty happy with how it turned out,鈥� Shackelford said.
How couldn鈥檛 he be? As a freshman playing on varsity for the Panthers, Shackelford took ninth at state. The following year he improved on the mark by taking second, but it was during his junior year that he finally won the 2A individual IHSAA state championship.聽
He followed up that state championship by winning the inaugural Iowa Junior Open in 2019 and being invited to the High School Golf National Invitational at Walt Disney World Resort and Falcon鈥檚 Fire Golf Club.
Going into his senior year, he had already won the Iowa High School Golf Coaches Association鈥檚 Class 2A Player of the Year award twice and was favored to win state again, as was his team.
鈥淚 was hoping our team could maybe take home the championship this year,鈥� Shackelford said.
Unfortunately, that did not happen. But some of the team was able to go to the High School Golf National Invitational at Pinehurst Resort with Shackelford.聽聽
鈥淚t was way nicer than last year,鈥� Shackelford said. 鈥淚t was nice going as a team but the course was a lot tougher.鈥�
Panorama finished 25th as a team with Ryan Klinge, Wyatt Appleseth, Lucas Leiferman and Shackelford. Shackelford had the team鈥檚 highest finish, tying for 73rd individually.
鈥淚t was a great time and a great experience,鈥� Shackelford said.
Now he joins a strong Kirkwood team led by NJCAA Division II National Coach of the Year Darin Pint.
Shackelford is excited to get started as an Eagle once they are allowed to practice. He has some big goals, but his high school career shows that he is up to the task.
