The top three contenders in the annual Highway 92 Showdown ended up separated by just six strokes Wednesday on the Posse Course at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex in Smithville.
Kearney ended up the winner with a 188, while Platte County came in third — just one shot back of Smithville (193). The Pirates’ 194 included a 7-over 43 on nine holes for junior No. 2 Ainsley Habel, who placed fourth in the individual standings.
Habel birdied No. 7 and ended up four shots ahead of Platte County sophomore No. 1 Naomi Loehner and her 47. The Pirates didn’t quite have enough from the final two scores to keep pace with Kearney and Smithville while Excelsior Springs finished a distant fourth with a 240.
Loehner also made a birdie (No. 3) but couldn’t overcome a triple bogey on the par 5 sixth. She ended up fifth overall.
Platte County senior Lila Sedlacek (eighth, 51) and junior Finnley Dougan (t-ninth, 53) rounded out the team score, while junior Grace Gaspers shot a 54. This marked the final round for the Pirates ahead of Friday’s Suburban Conference White Division Championships at Country Creek Golf Course in Pleasant Hill.
Having used eight different players in the lineup this season, Platte County looks to break a string of three straight second-place finishes at conference with Loehner the lone returning player to earn All-White Division honors last season. Habel and Dougan were honorable mention.
Liberty North Invitational
Platte County struggled to a 423 team total and finished 14th out of 19 in the final standings Monday at Winterstone Golf Course in Independence.
This marked Platte County’s final 18-hole tournament before conference and the postseason, and Loehner posted the best individual performance, tying for 31st with a 97 that did include a birdie at No. 18. Habel finished one shot back in a tie for 35th with a 98, while Sedlacek (t-70th, 110) and Gaspers (82nd, 118) rounded out the team score.
Platte County sophomore Madison Dunn played the No. 5 spot in this tournament — her third appearance on varsity this season.
