Playing at home on Shiloh Springs Golf Course, Platte County recorded a season-best team total of 404 and placed fifth out of 12 full teams in Monday’s Pirate Invitational.
Platte County sophomore Naomi Loehner hits a chip shot during the Pirate Invitational on Monday at Shiloh Springs Golf Course.
Platte County sophomore No. 1 Naomi Loehner and junior No. 2 Ainsley Habel continued to lead the way with both earning medals with top-10 finishes. The Pirates have looked at multiple options for the rest of the lineup, and senior Lila Sedlacek and junior Grace Gaspers rounded out the team score in their home tournament.
With no previous state qualifiers, Platte County does have plenty of players with varsity experience but have started a rebuild under first-year head coach Kevin Janssen. Sedlacek is the lone senior.
Loehner played No. 2 as a freshman behind two-time state qualifier Grace Handke and maintained a consistent run of play at the top spot. Loehner finished tied for third after opening with a birdie and going on to card a 15-over 86 despite adding only a pair of pars.
Habel’s 95 gave her 10th place solo, and she recorded three pars plus a birdie at No. 9 — her 10th hole of the round.
Sedlacek tied for 29th with 109, while Gaspers tied for 42nd with a 114 — one shot in front of junior teammate Finnley Dougan, a third-year contributor in Platte County’s lineup. She tied for 45th with sophomore teammate Madison Dunn, who played as part of the Pirates’ second team also entered into the tournament.
Platte County freshman Holland Porschen led the second five with a 110 — tied for 35th.
Smithville District Tuneup
Platte County came in fifth with a 437 in Wednesday’s 12-team tournament on The Posse Course at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex. Habel posted the Pirates’ top score with a 26-over 98 on a difficult day playing a notoriously challenging course in Smithville.
Habel finished ninth, while Loehner’s 103 tied her for 12th.
Platte County again switched up the lineup with Porschen (26th, 115) and freshman Delayna Noller (tied 36th, 121) rounding out the team total. Sedlacek posted the Pirates’ No. 5 score — a 124.
