Hendee’s strong round leads Platte County to 4th in season-opening tournament

Of Platte County’s four returners with varsity experience, only three made the lineup for the season-opening Winnetonka Invitational last Wednesday at Hodge Park Golf Course, and only two factored in the final team score. Yet, the Pirates finished fourth out of 13 teams in the final standings, showing off an intriguing blend of promise and depth.

Platte County sophomore Braden Hendee recorded the lowest 18-hole score of his career to lead the way, medaling with a solid fourth-place finish (9-over 79). He earned a starting spot midway through last season and currently looks like the favorite to earn the No. 1 spot after the graduation of two-time state qualifier Parker Amos, who only played three years due to the COVID-19 canceled season of 2020 but occupied the top spot in the lineup for the entirety of his career.

“I started off a little bit slow but I kind of got things in gear,” Hendee said. “I feel like I had some pretty good shots toward the middle and the end once I got it dialed in.”

In addition to Hendee, Platte County junior Josh Knickman carded a solid 13-over 83 in a cold and often-windy round to finish alone in 10th and also earn a medal. The Pirates ended up with a team total of 349, and junior Evan Sedlacek (93, tied for 26th) and freshman Brayden Renno (94, tied for 31st) — both first-year contributors — rounded out the score.

Platte County went into the season minus two-full time starters, but Hendee, Knickman and juniors Ben Gillilan Josh Gentilia also spent time in the top-five. Gentilia ultimately played in the Suburban Conference White Division Championships and postseason but didn’t make his 2024 debut until a triangular with Kearney and Grain Valley on Tuesday.

Gillilan shot a 101 and finished alone in 44th at the Winnetonka Invitational.

Even with three new faces, Platte County looked strong. Hendee finished one shot out of third and eight behind champion Jax Patterson of Central (St. Joseph), and the Pirates’ 349 was only 10 back of Kearney, which took the team title with Excelsior Springs (342) and Liberty North (345) rounded out the top three.

“Not a bad way to start off the season,” Platte County veteran coach Trevor Short said. “We played well at times and had some struggles at times. It is early on in the season and this is part of the process. It takes a few competitive rounds to get into the full swing of things and get the right rhythm and tempo. I was pleased to see how we handled the cold weather in the morning and made adjustments throughout the round as the temperatures warmed up. “

Grain Valley 174, Kearney 179, Platte County 184

The Pirates ended up third in a highly competitive matchup of Suburban Conference teams in frigid conditions Tuesday at Adams Pointe Golf Club in Blue Springs.

Hendee led Platte County for the second straight competitive event, posting a 6-over 42 on nine holes. Teams were allowed six players each with only the top four counting toward the team score. This allowed Short to use Gentilia for the first time, while juniors Merritt Bigus and Brogan Miller made their varsity debuts.

Miller and Gillilan shot dualing 45s, while Gentilia rounded out the Pirates’ team score with his 48. Sedlacek (50) and Bigus (52) were not far behind.

Last season, Knickman most consistently played as Platte County’s No. 2 behind Amos. Hendee and Knickman appear set to take the top two spots, but competition for spots could go as much as 10 deep. The Pirates were unable to play the Klint Andrews Memorial Tournament on Monday after it was postponed to April 15 and now will play in the home Pirate Scramble Invitational on Monday with a unique format that will again allow for six players on varsity divided into three duos plus junior varsity entries to give more insight into the lineup options available to Short.