Trevor Short wants to keep emphasizing the growth, both measurable and intangible.
Platte County senior Grace Handke hits a tee shot during the Tom Stout Invitational on Monday on The Posse Course at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex in Smithville.
With a roster of just six players, Platte County’s veteran coach continues to show patience while orchestrating a nearly complete rebuild of the lineup in a short season. The Pirates were 10th out of 17 full teams in Monday’s Tom Stout Invitational on The Posse Course at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex with senior Grace Handke — a returning Class 3 state qualifier — again leading the way. She finished one shot outside the top 20 with a career-best round of 93.
Platte County’s other four players in the 18-hole tournament were freshmen and sophomores.
“We are steadily seeing improvements from our players,” Short said. “We are continually making great strides in the right direction.”
Handke’s round of 21-over included a birdie at No. 7 and five pars. A third-year member of Platte County’s lineup, she entered off of a 99 less than a week earlier in the Staley Invitational and then improved by six more shots on a commonly played but historically difficult courses for the Pirates.
Platte County freshman Naomi Loehner tied for 41st in the Tom Stout Invitational with a 28-over 100 that included a pair of pars at Nos. 17 and 18. She matched Handke’s 99 in the Staley Invitational and continues to hold the No. 2 spot for the Pirates, who brought back only one other players from last season with varsity experience.
Platte County freshman Naomi Loehner hits a chip shot during the Tom Stout Invitational on Monday on The Posse Course at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex in Smithville.
Two more newcomers — sophomores Grace Gaspers (tied 57th, 113) and Ainsley Habel (tied 64th, 113) — rounded out Platte County’s team score. The Pirates posted a 415, just 12 shots back of eight-place Blue Springs South, and were just three points off the season-best team score of 412 from the Staley Invitational.
A minor contributor last season, Platte County sophomore Finnley Dougan shot a 116.
Park Hill 164, Park Hill South 166, Platte County 200
With all six players able to compete, Platte County received a full look at the lineup in Wednesday’s triangular at Tiffany Greens Golf Course.
Handke tied for sixth with an 8-over 44, making par on her first three holes and four total, while Gaspers (50), Loehner (53) and junior Lila Sedlacek (53) completing the four scores accounting for the team total. Habel shot a 56, while Dougan carded a 58.
Gaspers made a pair of birdies, starting at No. 1 and adding another at No. 7 but didn’t have any pars. She also finished with a pair of bogeys. Loehner also birdied the first, while Sedlacek made an eagle.
“We knew that this was going to be a tough event, but our focus is on our own improvement this year,” Short said. “The end results are great if it works out, but knowing that we are getting lower scores on a constant basis is the main goal for us at this time.”
