Green becomes Platte County’s 2nd 4-time state qualifer, while Handke makes cut at districts

Ella Green didn’t add to her tournament victory total but certainly looks primed to end an accomplished career in memorable fashion.

On Monday, Platte County’s star senior shot an 11-over 83 at Eagles’ Landing Golf Course in Belton to place second in Class 3 District 4. She became the second four-time state qualifier in program history and can now shift her attention to next week’s Class 3 MSHSAA Golf Championships.

Last year, Green finished sixth in Class 3 and became Platte County’s second all-state golfer. Now, she can become the first to achieve this feat twice for the Pirates.

Platte County didn’t find the desired team success with at team total of 442 — seventh in the eight-team standings. However, the Pirates continued a run with multiple state qualifiers after junior Grace Handke finished alone in 18th place with a 106.

The district team champion and runnerup automatically send their top four players to state, while the next 13 individual players not from those teams, including ties, also advance. If a state-qualifying team’s fifth score falls in the top 13 individuals or within 10 strokes of the individual cut line, that player advances and does not count toward the top 13 individuals.

Handke made the individual cut by three full strokes.

“Both the ladies have worked really hard in the offseason to prepare for this season and it has paid off with their accomplishments this year,” Platte County coach Trevor Short said.

Green and Handke were the only players in Platte County’s lineup with prior postseason experience, although the Pirates’ top five players entered off of a team runnerup finish in last week’s Suburban Conference White Division Championships. They have not qualified a full team for state since 2021 with Green a freshman on that team.

Improving her district finish each year, Green placed ninth as a freshman and fourth as a sophomore before tying for third last season. The runnerup finish — five shots back of Capital City’s Jaycie Lowery — sets up an opportunity to chase a state championship in the two-round tournament at Rivercut Golf Course in Springfield.

The first round tees off on Monday with the second scheduled for Tuesday.

Green won four tournaments during her senior season, including a second conference title. She finished 13 shots back of Class 3 champion Emree Cameron of Nevada last year at state.

As a sophomore, Green sat in an all-state position after the first round but faded to a tie for 30th. She tied for 25th as a freshman.

The top 15 players including ties earn all-state honors. Bailey Silcott, a 2023 graduate, became the first to achieve that feat in her senior season.

Lily Ricketts became Platte County’s first four-time state qualifier last fall. The Pirates have had more than one player at state in five consecutive seasons since the state went from two classes to four in the fall of 2020.

A second-year starter, Handke posted the No. 4 score for Platte County last season and placed 30th in her postseason debut, helping the Pirates finish a distant third behind the state-qualifying teams. She shot one of the best rounds of her career to earn a state debut.

Platte County seniors Izzie Grell (32nd, 126) and Macie Garland (tie for 33rd, 127) rounded out the team score and saw their careers come to an end.

“The two ladies, along with (senior) Danika Stephenson, did a great job while on our team and made lasting impressions on their teammates that will help them grow as golfers and people,” Short said. “We will miss them, but they have big plans moving into the future.”

Platte County junior Emma Mizell finished her first career district round but did not post a qualifying score.

All teams were dealt an extenuating circumstance when frost delayed the start of the tournament by more than an hour. Players were still on the course late in the afternoon with Smithville (383) winning the team title over Capital City (384) by one stroke.

Platte County’s 442 ended up 15 shots back of sixth-place Grain Valley, which repeated as White Division champion this season.

“It seems like there is always something that we run into this time of year that puts a little hiccup in the action,” Short said. “We had an hour-and-a-half frost delay and cold temperatures. Not a big deal, but it does play a factor in the warmup process. The team handled it well and stayed focused as we waited.  We are so proud of the team and how they have grown this year.”