Another year, another second-place finish in the Suburban Conference White Division Championships for Platte County — this time by the slimmest of margins.
Platte County junior Ainsley Habel hits a shot during the Suburban Conference White Division Championships Friday at Country Creek Golf Club in Pleasant Hill.
All seven teams struggled Friday at Country Creek Golf Club in Pleasant Hill, but Grain Valley won the team title by a single stroke. The Eagles totaled a 436 with one of only three golfers to break 100 in the 18-hole round.
In the end, the top five teams were separated by just 17 strokes with Platte County second at 437 and defending champion Fort Osage third with a 444.
Platte County entered hoping to win the White Division tournament for the first time since 2022. Grain Valley has now won the crown three of the past four seasons.
In the end, Platte County still produced a pair of all-conference performers — junior Ainsley Habel for the first time after placing tied for fourth with a 103 and repeat honors for sophomore Naomi Loehner, who tied for sixth with a 105. Holland Porschen, a freshman, became an honorable mention performer (13th, 112) and rounded out the team score along with senior Lila Sedlacek (17th, 117).
Platte County brought back three of the five from last year’s conference entrants with Porschen and Sedlacek the newcomers. Habel and junior Finnley Dougan (t-18th, 119) were both honorable mention last year and earned spots in this year’s competitive lineup.
This marked the final competition before Class 3 District 4 play.
Platte County used eight different players in the varsity lineup at times this season, trying to find the optimal combination. A year ago, the Pirates were in Class 4 for the postseason and didn’t have a state qualifier for the first time since 2019 and graduated the only player with prior experience in the Class 3 MSHSAA Golf Championships.
Habel, Dougan and Loehner are all multi-year contributors in the lineup, while Sedlacek and junior Grace Gaspers have also contributed over the past two seasons.
Class 3 District 4 play starts Monday at Hoots Hollow in Pleasant Hill. The top two teams advance their top four players to state, while the next 13 individual players not from those teams, including ties, also advance. If a state-qualifying team’s fifth score falls in the top 13 individuals or within 10 strokes of the individual cut line, that player advances and does not count toward the top 13 individuals.
