Grace Handke won’t have the opportunity to finish her career at state, but Platte County veteran coach Trevor Short couldn’t have asked for more from his lone senior on a six-player roster this season.
Platte County senior Grace Handke hits a chip shot during her round in the Class 4 District 4 tournament Monday on The Posse Course at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex in Smithville.
In what ended up the final 18 holes her career, Handke shot 34-over (106) and finished in a tie for 38th in Monday’s Class 4 District 4 tournament on The Posse Course at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex. She ended up 13 shots off a very competitive individual cutline and would have needed a career-best round to have advanced.
Handke went into this season as a returning qualifier for the Class 3 MSHSAA Golf Championships, but Platte County faced an entirely new postseason challenge when moved up to Class 4 for the first time in the program’s history.
“It wasn’t quite the plan, but the four-year experience that we were able to spend with Grace was probably more meaningful than moving on to the next level,” Short said. “She is an amazing teammate that thinks of others before herself. She makes sure everyone is included in everything we do even if they are on opposing teams. Grace Handke is one of the most all-around influential players that we have had in many years. Her attitude and work ethics rival many of the hardest working people I know. She always projects a positive attitude and encourages everyone around her to be better.
“I have countless times been told by other teams’ parents and coaches how wonderful she is and that they wish they had half that enthusiasm about everything she possesses. We are very blessed to have had a player like Grace on our team the last 4 years.”
Platte County freshman Naomi Loehner hits a shot during her round in the Class 4 District 4 tournament Monday on The Posse Course at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex in Smithville.
Staley (335) and Liberty (352) advanced their top four players to state, while the next 13 individual players not from those teams, including ties, also advanced. If a state-qualifying team’s fifth score fell in the top 13 individuals or within 10 strokes of the individual cut line, that player advanced and did not count toward the top 13 individuals.
With only Handke back from last year’s postseason lineup, Platte County struggled to a 475 and finished 12th out of 15 full teams. The Pirates’ other four players all made their district debuts with freshman Naomi Loehner (46th, 111) and sophomores Finnley Dougan (57th, 120) and Grace Gaspers (66th, 138) rounded out the team score.
“We knew going into the event that we would have to play our best, and we just couldn’t get the ball rolling in the right direction,” Short said. “We still stuck with our positive attitudes and kept moving forward. This event for most of us was a learning experience playing in such a big tournament. This type of environment can be stressful and learning how to deal with the stress is part of playing competition golf.
“Our younger players will be able to take this experience and use it for their advantage as they progress each season.”
Platte County sophomore Finnley Dougan hits a putt during her round in the Class 4 District 4 tournament Monday on The Posse Course at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex in Smithville.
A three-year member of the lineup, Handke brought back by far the most experience for Platte County, while Dougan also made two appearances as a freshman in varsity events.
Handke finished 18th with a 106 last year in Class 3 District 4, which hosted the tournament at Eagles’ Landing. She came in 30th as a sophomore and helped the finish third as a team and just miss a team berth.
In Monday’s round, Handke made just one par on a familiar course and ended up out of state contention. Her career-best rounds for the Pirates came earlier this season in back-to-back weeks with a 93 and a 99 with the 93 on The Posse Course.
Handke finishes her career as a three-time All-Suburban Conference White Division performer, and she shot a 110-105—215 as a junior at Springfield’s Rivercut Golf Course in her lone trip to state.
“It’s one of the best things in my life,” Handke said. “I’m so glad I joined (the golf team) my freshman year. I was kind of a newbie, kind of quiet and shy, just kind of learning the ropes. But then some girls took me on … and showed me what golf’s about.
“It was a great experience, and yeah, I’m happy.”
Loehner also made all-conference a week earlier. She made seven bogeys in her first postseason round after playing No. 2 for Platte County for the entirety of an encouraging debut season.
Dougan’s 120 included one par, while Gaspers finished four shots in front of sophomore Ainsley Habel, who posted the Pirates’ No. 5 score.
This marks Platte County’s first season without a state qualifier since 2019.
