Platte County still doesn’t have the desired top-to-bottom full team performance, leaving opportunities for a deep roster. This past week, the Pirates placed seventh in the Oak Park Invitational with two more players making varsity debuts while receiving an early look at a postseason course.
Minus a key contributor and returning state qualifier due to a schedule conflict with FBLA State, Platte County totaled a 346 on Monday on The Posse Course at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex in Smithville.
“We had an OK day out on the course,” Platte County coach Trevor Short said. “There were some ups and downs throughout the round, but we managed to keep everything in check and produced some respectable scores. We still have a lot more to work on as we progress through the season.”
Platte County junior Braden Hendee tied for fifth with a 5-over 77 and came in two shots back of Kearney’s Will Staab, who claimed the individual medalist honors outright with a 75. Josh Knickman, one of two seniors in the Pirates’ current top four, posted an 81 and finished in a seven-way tie for 12th and just missed a spot in the top 10.
Hendee and Knickman were Class 4 state qualifiers last season along with sophomore Brayden Renno, who did not play this most recent tournament due to the conflict with the FBLA event.
With those three in the lineup, Platte County posted a season-best 333 in the prior tournament. The Pirates have four returners from last season, including senior Josh Gentilia but have continued to invite competition for the fifth spot in the lineup. Gentilia shot a 93 at the Oak Park Invitational and finished in a tie for 53rd in the 112-player field. The top three also received a look at the site of the upcoming Class 4 District 4 tournament, slated for Wednesday, May 7.
Platte County freshman Bryson Hevalow rounded out the team score with a 95 (tied for 60th), while fellow freshman Nick Cangelosi shot a 98 (tied for 71st). Both were making varsity debuts with Renno out of the lineup.
So far this season, Short has used nine different players at the varsity level.
“The team has been working hard every day with a lot of high quality golfers pushing each other to get better,” he said.
Platte County travels to the Klint Andrews Memorial Tournament on Monday in Lee’s Summit before a Senior Night dual with Park Hill on Wednesday at Shiloh Springs Golf Club. Knickman and Gentilia will be the lone honorees.
