Trevor Short generally knows what to expect from an experienced top three this season.
With a lot of competition down the lineup, Platte County’s veteran coach plans to take a look at multiple players in competitive situations. The Pirates were put to a difficult test in Monday’s Liberty North Invitational — the first 18-hole competition of the season, held at WinterStone Golf Course in Independence.
Platte County junior No. 1 and two-time Class 3 Missouri State Golf Championships qualifier Ella Green impressed, earning a medal with a seventh-place finish. Her 9-over 81 came up just one short of the program-best round she put up as a sophomore. However, the Pirates ended up with three players carding rounds over 100 and totaled a 415 to place 12th out of 17 teams.
Platte County sophomore Erin Anderson watches a putt during the Liberty North Invitational on Monday at WinterStone Golf Course in Independence.
“Why not start with one of the tougher courses and the toughest fields for your first full 18 hole tournament of the year?” Short said. “I was very impressed with how the team did today. We like this tournament because it lets us see where we compare to some of the bigger schools in the area.”
Indeed, Platte County, Smithville (eighth, 397) and Kearney (15th, 437) were the only Class 3 schools in the field. Liberty North’s Bailey Burkett and Park Hill’s Makenna Kincheloe tied for top honors with rounds of 3-under 69. Green ended up just one shot back of sixth, but the top five players were all 3-over or better. The Pirates’ No. 2 score came from senior Lily Ricketts, a three-time state qualifier, and her 98 tied for 31st.
Platte County senior Mackenzie Borland placed 68th (114), while sophomore Erin Anderson rounded out the team score in her varsity debut (122, 75th). Fellow sophomore Emma Mizell also played her inaugural round for the Pirates and shot a 127.
“Ella Green made a nice statement here today,” Short said. “Ricketts and Borland are starting to build stronger scorecards as they continue to string more and more quality holes together. I like how our younger players are starting to make moves and show off some of the skills they have been implementing.
“We are doing a lot of rotating of the roster to get as many players experience as possible.”
Platte County enters the season having won seven straight Suburban Conference titles, the first six in the Blue Division and last year in the White Division. The Pirates have also advanced to state as a team each of the past three seasons.
NKC Dottie Drukker Memorial Tournament
Due to excessive temperatures, the event ended up as a nine-hole scramble Friday morning at Tiffany Greens Golf Club in Kansas City with each team able to enter three two-player teams. The top two factored into the team scores.
Platte County received a first expanded chance to look at lineup options but also placed third in the process.
Green and Ricketts shot a 1-over 37 and tied for third, while Borland and junior Macie Garland were seventh with a 42. Green and sophomore Grace Handke were five shots back with a 47 but were also in the top 10, finishing ninth out of 21 tandems. The Pirates totaled a 79 and were the clear No. 3 behind Park Hill (70) and Smithville (72) with fourth-place North Kansas City back at 100.
“This was a good first tournament of the season to break the ice and get the competitive juices flowing,” Short said. “The ladies adjusted to adversity with the heat restrictions this week and came out of the gate swinging. We like the aggressiveness of the team, and they are showing that they are eager to get out and compete.
“We stuck to the plan and we are pleased with the results from our first event of the season.”
