Platte County coach Trevor Short tried another set of five players in the lineup this week, but the inconsistency in scoring leaves an opening for more shuffles and additional contributors down the stretch.
At the Oak Park Invitational on Monday, Platte County finished 12th out of 20 teams in an 18-hole tournament on The Posse Course at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex in Smithville — the same site as the Class 3 District 4 tournament later this season. The Pirates put up a team score of 380 and were 63 shots back of team champion Smithville.
In two other tournaments this year, Platte County had not shot worse than 345.
“This wasn’t our best day out on the course, but it was a great opportunity to play the course scheduled for the district tournament,” Short said. “We gained more experience today which is the key item for our team. We are young at golf and are learning every day the fine aspects it takes to play competitive golf. As we progress through the season, we hope to pick up more tactics that will help improve our games. This group/team is very eager to be out at the course to gain all the knowledge they can get to absorb.”
Platte County came into the season with four returning contributors, but only junior Josh Knickman essentially played a full season last year. Braden Hendee, a sophomore, earned a lineup spot midway through his freshman campaign and continues to play as the Pirates’ consistent No. 1. He carded a team-best 11-over 83 at the Oak Park Invitational and finished in a five-way tie for 12th.
However, Platte County’s scorers behind Hendee were freshman Brayden Renno (96) and juniors Josh Gentilia (98) and Ben Gillilan (103) — the latter two also starters for part of 2023. Evan Sedlacek, another junior, earned some additional time in the lineup and shot a 110.
Short has used eight different players at the varsity level so far this season.
Staley 169, Platte County 195
The Falcons came out on top in a nonconference nine-hole dual Thursday at Staley Farms Golf Course in Kansas City.
Platte County used the same five golfers from the Oak Park Invitational, and Hendee continued his streak of posting the lowest score. He shot a 43, while Sedlacek posted the No. 2 score with a 49. Gentilia (50) and Gillilan (51) rounded out the team total, while Renno shot a 53.
Platte County plays two times next week, starting Monday. There’s just two weeks left in the regular season before the three-week stretch of conference, districts and state.
