SYRACUSE — You won't get many players or coaches to admit it on the record, but with the caliber of golf the Dixie Flyers are playing these days, the other teams at the 4A Utah High School Golf Championships seem to be aiming more for which one can finish as the runner-up.

It's not that the other teams and players are not trying, they just simply don't have the same depth.

The Flyers, who have won six state titles in the past seven years and are going for four straight this week at Glen Eagle golf course, are one of the rare teams that can have their No. 6 player shoot the same score as their No. 1 player. Actually, in Wednesday's first round, Dixie's No. 6 player, Haiden Heppler, posted the team's lowest score — a 1-under 71.

"That's amazing," Orem coach Greg Sheide said as scores were being posted Wednesday afternoon.

With that 71, and a 72 from McCoy Willey, a 73 from Connor Van Gilder and a 76 from A.J. Thomas, the Flyers are well on their way to that four-peat. With 18 holes remaining today, they lead the Uintah Utes by 14 strokes, East and Tooele are 16 shots back, Timpanogos 19 shots behind and Snow Canyon 21.

Realistically, the Utes, who won the 3A state title in 2007, are the ones with the best chance of catching the Flyers. Ute senior Stratton Schulz, who finished second in last year's 3A medalist race and fifth two years ago, is tied with Snow Canyon's Nate Burr atop the leaderboard after both shot 2-under 70s. Burr, Schulz and Heppler are the only ones who broke par.

Most golfers struggled with the cold weather and the changing winds. Schulz said he managed the conditions by playing conservatively and focusing on keeping his ball in play. He had 16 pars and two birdies, with both birdies coming when he two-putted on par-5s.

"It was a grind out there today, but I had no bad holes," Schulz said.

For the Utes to give Dixie a challenge, and for Schulz to finally get that elusive medalist title, they'll have to implement the same strategy in today's final round.

"Fairways and greens, that's what it will take. If we can do that and make a few putts, I think we'll be OK," Schulz said.

Knowing they have a comfortable lead, that's also what the Flyers will be looking to do. Others still in the hunt for the medalist title — besides Burr, Schulz and Heppler — are Willey, Van Gilder, Tyler Abarca (73) of Tooele, Skylar Schone (73) of Pine View, Kris Cook (74) of Spanish Fork and McCade Larsen (74) of Timpanogos.

Shooting 75 on Wednesday, and also within striking distance, are Jesse Dodson of Timpanogos, Remington Schultz of East, Crew Carlson of East, Jake Holt of Tooele and Alex Howlett of Olympus. Posting a first-round 76 were Thomas, Dalton Stanger of Orem, Brock Glasmann and Tanner Alder of Bonneville, Matt Hemple of Lehi and Alex Baldridge of Uintah.

For scores, click on story Utah High School Golf Championships.

e-mail: jimr@desnews.com