Naomi Loehner rallied and ultimately just earning all-state honors in the Class 3 MSHSAA Golf Championships.
After a difficult opening round, Platte County’s sophomore No. 1 ended up tied for 23rd out of 96 individuals over two days at Meadow Lake Acres County Club in New Bloomfield. Loehner led a trio of first-time qualifiers in a bounce back season for the Pirates in a return down a class this postseason.
Loehner’s 94-87—181 ended up just five shots off the top 15 plus tie cutoff for all-state honors.
Platte County junior Finnley Dougan (tied for 87th) and freshman Holland Porschen (95th) — two relatively surprising qualifiers — also made debuts. The Pirates sent three to state a year after not advancing anyone out of districts during a one-year bump up to Class 4.
Loehner opened Monday’s opening round with a par but sat at 11-over after just five holes. However, a birdie at No. 15 changed the trajectory of her tournament. She played the final 13 holes of her round in 11-over to stay on the edge of all-state contention.
The second-round 87 for Loehner included five pars and just two double bogeys.
Dougan shot a dead even 115-115—230, while Porschen — a first-year golfer — went 127-115—242 to close on a positive note. A week earlier, Dougan and Porschen claimed two of the final state spots out of Class 3 District 4, which produced team state champion St. Teresa’s Academy.
Platte County went into the season with no prior state experience after losing Grace Handke to graduation. However, the Pirates moved back down to Class 3 with Dougan a three-year qualifier, while Loehner and junior Ainsley Habel moved up to the Nos. 2 and 3 spots.
Eventually, Porschen and senior Lila Sedlacek earned the final two spots in the lineup, while Dougan struggled much of the season but won a final week playoff to remain in the top five.
Loehner placed in the top 10 at Class 3 District 4, while Dougan and Porschen rallied late to make the individual cut. Habel’s all-conference season ended after an off round with Sedlacek the lone senior on this year’s roster.
