Platte County senior Bailey Silcott hits a chip shot during a dual with Staley on Wednesday at Shiloh Springs Golf Course. TODD NUGENT/PC Preps Extra

Silcott posts 3-over 37 in final home meet of career at Platte County

Platte County comes up just short in dual with Staley as Silcott, Kovar, Villarreal celebrated senior night after final home competition of their careers.

In the final chance to play a regular season match on a home course where she practically grew up, Bailey Silcott saved one of her best for last.

TODD NUGENT/PC Preps Extra
Platte County sophomore Ella Green hits an iron shot during a dual with Staley on Wednesday at Shiloh Springs Golf Course.

Platte County’s senior leader turned in a 3-over 37 on a par 34 setup during a dual with Staley on Wednesday at Shiloh Springs Golf Course. The visiting Falcons came away with a 158-171 victory on aan otherwise memorable senior day for Silcott, Brylie Kovar and Ava Villarreal.

After some recent struggles, Platte County again looked the part of contender with Silcott seemingly staking her claim to the No. 1 spot for the remainder of the season. She chipped in for birdie on her opening hole after finding a tough spot off the tee, and the round remained on target from there.

“It was a very exciting match versus a very tough Staley team,” Platte County coach Trevor Short said. “We played well under the conditions, and our team score was one of our lowest all season. We had a little rain delay after about five holes and then went back out after the delay and finished strong. We don’t get to play in this type of weather that often, but it is good to experience these situations so you can learn to adapt and overcome them.”

Silcott, a two-time Class 3 Missouri State Golf Championships qualifier, had hit some struggles but seems to have regained her form at the right time. Behind her, sophomore Ella Green and junior Lily Ricketts shot matching 43s, while junior Mackenzie Borland rounded out the team score with a 48. Kovar shot a 51 as the No. 5 for the Pirates.

Staley’s Jaylee Castro earned medalist honors with a 1-over 35, while Malary Scraggs tied Silcott with a 37. Those two low scores were too much for Platte County to overcome in the team race.

TODD NUGENT/PC Preps Extra
Platte County junior Lily Ricketts watches a tee shot during a dual with Staley on Wednesday at Shiloh Springs Golf Course.

But the optimism remains for Platte County, which now has a full week off until Wednesday’s Smithville Invitational. That will be the final tuneup before the postseason push. The Pirates will close the season with the Suburban Conference White Division Championships, Class 3 District 4 play and hopefully more qualifiers for state.

Platte County entered the season having won six straight Suburban Conference Blue Division titles but moved up a tier this season. The Pirates will still want to keep the streak of championships alive against Belton, Grain Valley, Raytown and William Chrisman.

Silcott finished second a year ago in the Blue Division and will be looking to become a third straight individual medalist at conference for Platte County (Eden Shipp 2020-21 and Tori Sanders 2020). She is a two-time all-conference performer and an honorable mention finisher as a freshman.

Ricketts and Green were both top-10 a year ago as first-time all-conference performers while Kovar was honorable mention as a junior.

Platte County has also claimed team state berths each of the past two years in two very different formats. The Pirates were second at Class 3 District 4 a year ago but under the current qualification system only Shipp, Silcott, Green and Ricketts advanced to state. Kovar also played at districts but did not advance with the top two teams only guaranteed their top four advance to state and the fifth needing to qualify in one of the individual spots.

TODD NUGENT/PC Preps Extra
Platte County senior Brylie Kovar hits a putt during a dual with Staley on Wednesday at Shiloh Springs Golf Course.

Borland will likely be making her postseason debut.

Like Silcott, Ricketts is a two-time state qualifier, while Green made her debut last year and impressed as Platte County’s second-best finisher behind Shipp. The Pirates finished sixth as a team in 2021 after placing fifth and missing a team state trophy by just one point in 2020.

Green just missed the top 20 in her state debut last season, while Silcott moved up from 42nd to 27th in her second trip to state.

Platte County has never had a state medalist, although Shipp missed by just five shots a year ago. Interestingly, Bailey Silcott’s mother, Amy Silcott, essentially founded the girls golf program for the Pirates in the late 1990s along with her grandfather and longtime Shiloh Springs course pro Brian Silcott as coach.

Amy Silcott was also a state qualifier but never medaled.

Oak Park Invitational

Heading into senior night, Silcott continued to showcase her return to consistent form., placing 13th in Monday’s tournament on the Outlaw Course at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex in Smithville. She shot a 15-over 87 on the par 72 setup.

However, Platte County ended up placing eighth as a team with a season-worst 402 team total. Green, who earlier this year set a school record for lowest 18-hole round, tied for 29th with a 97, while Ricketts and Borland tied for 51st with matching 109s.

“We were hoping to have a little better showing with our scores today,” Short said. “Silcott has sparked a fire and is striking the ball very well. She had a very good day and placed well in a tough tournament.”

Liberty North Invitational

Platte County’s struggles at Winterstone Golf Course continued Monday in Liberty. The Pirates were almost 30 shots off their first two team totals this season, placing seventh overall.

On a par 72 setup, Ricketts led the way with an 89, good enough to tie for 19th place, while Silcott tied for 25th with a 92. Green, coming off the lowest 18-hole round in program history, shot a 96 to come in alone at 35th, while Borland rounded out the 375 team total with a 98 — tied for 40th.

“We had a lot of ups and downs today with the hills and our scores,” Short said. “The team just hasn’t been able to play well at this course in recent years. We enjoy the challenge, and the competition is tough, so we take it as a good judgment as to where we stand as a team. It may have gotten the best of some of us today, but these experiences can only make us better.

“Lily Ricketts had a great round today.”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Top Headlines

Follow us on social media