If any doubts remained, consider those squashed.
Platte County heads toward the stretch run of a promising season with inarguably the deepest roster in program history. The Pirates put that on display again in Monday’s Oak Park Invitational, placing second overall in the final standings with a 318 on The Posse Course at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex in Smithville.
The second-best team total of the season came at the site for the upcoming Class 4 District 4 tournament with two players not in the top five posting rounds that would have helped Platte County’s varsity score.
“The team played pretty solid today and came away with a very respectable team score,” Platte County coach Trevor Short said. “We were able to have two teams out on the course today for the tournament, which allowed us to get a good feel of how we play the district course.
“The team is progressing well, and we still have a lot to figure out as we head into the final stretch of the regular season.”
Platte County senior No. 1 Braden Hendee again led the way, tying his career-best round with an even-par 72. He took the individual title by three full strokes over Rockhurst sophomore Peter Menghini (75).
However, Rockhurst ran away with the team championship by putting four scores in front of Platte County’s next-best finisher — sophomore Nick Cangelosi, who carded a 7-over 79. Bryson Hevalow (83) and Reid Fraccascia (84), two more sophomores, rounded out the Pirates’ team total.
In a rare off day, Platte County junior No. 2 Brayden Renno shot an 86 to post the No. 5 score. Interestingly, Pirates sophomore Jacob Mitchell earned a medal and finished seventh with a 77 in his first tournament at the varsity level, while junior Braylon Gates added an 81 in a bounceback performance after some early-season struggles.
Hendee posted four birdies total, offset by four bogeys, in a round showcasing his familiarity with The Posse Course.
If not for a triple bogey at the par four third, Mitchell might have been higher on the leaderboard. He made two birdies on his round for Platte County, as did Cangelosi, who played up and down with just seven total pars.
Notably, Platte County did not have sophomore Jack Dillingham for this tournament although he typically plays in the No. 3 spot. Hendee, Renno and sophomore Kaplan Curtis all were on last year’s Class 4 MSHSAA Golf Championships qualifying team for the Pirates that placed third at districts.
Hendee and Renno are both two-time state qualifiers.
Platte County now has three tournaments and two nine-hole meets left to decide on a lineup for the Suburban Conference White Division Championships plus the postseason. The Pirates are looking to unseat Grain Valley and return to the top of the conference standings before chasing a second straight team berth to state after ending a 24-year drought last season with all five players qualifying as individuals to earn the right to post a team score.
Over two rounds at state, Platte County finished fifth overall and just missed a top-four trophy.
