Glancing at walking scoreboards within view, Enumclaw’s Tyler Salsbury thought he was in the clear for his first Washington Junior Golf Association state championship.

But when he walked to the 17th tee where there was a three-group wait, he asked Shoreline’s Chris Babcock how he was playing. When Babcock said he was 6-under for the round, Salsbury realized he was no longer the leader.

“My heart just dropped,” Salsbury said.

That is, until Babcock’s tee shot on the long par 3 sailed left and into brush and he ended up making double bogey. It set up the Salsbury to finish off what he started – winning the WJGA boys title at Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla.

Salsbury’s even-par 72 gave him a three-round total of 6-under 210 total – just ahead of Babcock (68) at 211.

“To me, this is No. 1 – and my goal since I have been playing golf,” said the Enumclaw High senior who is a two-time WJGA state runner-up and has given the University of Washington an oral commitment. “I wanted to win a state championship.

On that same par-3 17th, Salsbury hit his 5-iron tee shot to within 10 feet for an easy par, and he also made par on the finishing hole to close out the victory.

Salsbury now shares a perpetual trophy with Fred Couples and Ryan Moore among other past WJGA Champions.

Salsbury qualified for the state’s Hogan Cup squad, which will be played Aug. 12-14 in Portland, Ore.