Ella Green might be in the midst of the best stretch of individual play in program history with no signs of slowing down.
Platte County junior Grace Handke hits a tee shot during the Pirate Invitational on Monday at Shiloh Springs Golf Course.
This past week, Platte County’s star senior No. 1 topped the fields in the Pirate Invitational on Monday and the Smithville District Tuneup Tournament on Wednesday. She has now been the individual winner of three straight tournaments and four events overall.
Green continues to make more and more history and build on a growing list of accomplishments that included the two lowest state rounds in program history in last year’s Class 3 MSHSAA Golf Championships to help her become the second all-state performer ever for the Pirates.
On Monday, Green dominated Platte County’s home tournament with a solid 5-over 76 to finish a full eight shots clear of Saley’s Haley Heintz. The medalist performance helped the Pirates set a season-best team total of 398, which placed fourth overall out of 12 teams.
“The team played fairly well today,” Platte County coach Trevor Short said. “We are still trying to get a few more of them to get into the double digits (for 18-hole scores) this year and that will help our team scores tremendously. Green … is playing some very consistent golf right now.”
Platte County freshman Finnely Dougan hits a chip shot during the Pirate Invitational on Monday at Shiloh Springs Golf Course.
Platte County ended up 18 shots ahead of fifth-place Park Hill despite not having another finisher in the top 20. The Pirates’ team score also included juniors Grace Handke and Emma Mizell with both finishing tied for 21st with matching 106s. Macie Garland, another one of four seniors set to play at home for the final time this upcoming week, tied for 25th with a 110.
At the No. 5 spot, Platte County senior Izzie Grell shot a 117 despite recording a birdie on the par-three eighth.
Smithville District Tuneup Tournament
While not quite as good as the first time around, Green won again on The Posse Course at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex in Smithville on Wednesday. She also took the title in the Oak Park Invitational, played at the same spot just nine days earlier when she fired a 4-over 76.
Green shot an 8-over 80 in the Tuneup where Platte County will compete in Class 3 District 4 two weeks from Monday. The score bettered runnerup Makenna Kincheloe by just one shot.
While the team has a history of battling The Posse, Green appears to have found a groove over the last two rounds of 18 holes. However, Platte County struggled to a team 441 and finished eighth out of 12 teams. The Pirates posted a 409 in the previous trip to the course.
Platte County also notably made a change to the top five in the lineup. Handke against posted the No. 2 score with a 110, while freshman Finnley Dougan made her varsity debut with a 121. Garland rounded out the team score with a 130, while Grell played at No. 5.
“We will just say today was a battle,” Short said. “Two players were not feeling the best and still showed true grit by playing through adversity. We also had some bounces that went our way, and some that didn’t. Overall, I was very pleased with the team’s attitude and effort as they battled through some tough spots and rough sequences.”
Platte County now prepares for a busy final week of the regular season with the Liberty North Invitational on Monday, the Highway 92 Showdown on Wednesday at The Posse and senior night at Shiloh Springs against Staley on Thursday. The Pirates will then turn to the Suburban Conference White Division Championships on Monday, October 7 before districts and state.
