Platte County anticipates better rounds ahead, but even a disappointing 11th-place finish in last week’s Darren Floyd Memorial Tournament at Tiffany Greens Golf Club in Kansas City showed the potential of this year’s lineup. The four scoring players for the Pirates all carded rounds in the 80s with a team total of 333 — just three strokes off 2024’s season-low score.
Without a medal-winner, Platte County finished in the bottom third of 15 teams but were also just 18 shots back of the top five.
This marked the first traditional format 18-hole tournament of the season for Platte County, which returns four from last year’s lineup with three of those making state debuts in the Class 4 MSHSAA Golf Championships to conclude the campaign. Braden Hendee, a junior, led the Pirates at the Darren Floyd and tied for 22nd in a 79-player field with an 8-over 80.
Platte County sophomore Brayden Renno (t-29, 82) and seniors Josh Gentilia (t-37, 84) and Josh Knickman (t-49th, 87).
“It wasn’t our best showing of the season, but we did gain some great experience today,” Platte County coach Trevor Short said. “The team is a little inconsistent at the moment, but over the season, we will begin to get everything into place. The more we get into the groove of our season, the consistency of quality shots will follow. At this point in the season we are trying to get as much playing time for each player as possible, so we can gain those experiences and put together the best team possible toward the end of the season.”
Gentilia, Knickman and Hendee all have more than one season in Platte County’s lineup, while Renno rarely played outside the top five as a freshman. All four helped the Pirates finish second last year in the Suburban Conference White Division Championships when they shot a season-best 330.
Platte County junior Isaiah Deeken accounted for the team’s fifth score in this tournament, shooting a 110. He played along with junior Jacob Hein in a top-six earlier last week during the home Pirate Invitational, which played in a two-man scramble format at Shiloh Springs Golf Course.
Staley 156, Platte County 161
The Falcons won a tight dual between the two teams Thursday afternoon at Shiloh Springs Golf Course.
Hendee carded Platte County’s low round with a 38, while Gentilia (40), Renno (41) and Knickman (42) rounded out an incredibly balanced team score. The Pirates also gave sophomore Braylon Gates a second opportunity in the varsity lineup, and he shot a 55 after being one of six players in a season-opening triangular against Grain Valley and Kearney.
