Platte County wanted to learn throughout the season, especially about the most important postseason venue. The Pirates used this week to gain more familiarity and keep growing a young roster, which does not include a single senior.
On Wednesday, Platte County ended up fourth in the four-team Highway 92 Showdown at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex on the Posse Course. Those nine holes came after a full team practice round there that should provide valuable experience in hopes of maximizing qualifiers for the Class 4 MSHSAA Golf Championships.
Platte County shot a 177 and finished only six shots behind Excelsior Springs (171), while Smithville (154) easily bested Kearney (169) for the Highway 92 Showdown rivalry trophy. The Pirates’ five scores were all bunched between a 6-over 42 for sophomore No. 1 Braden Hendee and 49.
The team score for Platte County also included junior Josh Gentilia (43), freshman Brayden Renno (45) and junior Evan Sedlacek. The 27 holes on The Posse Course provided a final look for players ahead of the Class 4 District 4 tournament at the same site, a week from Monday after the Pirates play in the Suburban Conference White Division Championships.
“This was a good practice round for the upcoming district tournament,” Platte County coach Trevor Short said. “We knew that we were going to be at the top of our game to finish well today, but we just could put it all together. There were lots of shots that went our way and a few more that didn’t. Every time we play the course we are gaining experience in all aspects of golf from playing to strategies. We are still in that learning process where we are figuring out how to put a full nine or 18 holes together of quality golf.”
Hendee remains the most consistent member of the lineup.
Platte County returned four players with significant varsity experience from last year, a group that includes Gentilia and fellow juniors Josh Knickman and Ben Gillilan. Hendee has emerged and posted the low score for the Pirates in all but one event this spring, while Knickman had played as high as No. 2 as a sophomore but hit some struggles in recent weeks. He shot a 49 and did not factor in the scoring at the Highway 92 Showdown.
On Monday, Platte County travels to Hoot’s Hollow Golf Course for the program’s second appearance in the White Division tournament. The Pirates finished second to Grain Valley last year after winning a Blue Division title in 2022.
Knickman (seventh) and Hendee (10th) both earned all-conference honors last year, while Gentilia tied for 11th and took an honorable mention spot.
Platte County shot a 341 and finished well back of White Division champion Grain Valley (309). The Pirates will then turn the focus to the Class 4 District 4 tournament seeking to continue a lengthy run with at least one state qualifier.
Last year, Parker Amos played No. 1 for a third straight year and claimed an individual berth for a second straight year.
Platte County finished sixth overall in the 12-team field. The top two in the standings automatically qualified their top four players to state, while the next 12 individuals plus ties, which could also include the No. 5 players from those teams, also advanced.
The system will generally be the same this year with a few changes. If a qualifying team’s fourth and fifth player score is a tie or the fifth player finishes within 10 strokes of the individual cutline, those players advance to state tournament but do not count toward the total of 13 individuals not from the qualifying team that will also advance.
With a team berth a challenging proposition, Platte County will need strong individual showings.
In last year’s district tournament, Hendee shot an 18-over 90 — six strokes off the state cutline — while Knickman came in with a 92 and Gentila a 93. Those three are the only potential repeat members of the postseason lineup while those like Renno, a freshman, would be making their debut.
Platte County has used nine different players in the varsity lineup at some point this season, including Gillilan and Sedlacek.
