Entering as the defending Suburban Conference Blue Division champions, Platte County knew the unique challenge of capturing a second straight title while moving up to the White Division for the first time.
Platte County senior Parker Amos lines up a practice putt following his round in Monday’s Suburban Conference White Division Championships at Hoots Hollow Golf Course in Harrisonville.
Grain Valley ended up the runaway winner of the Suburban Conference White Division Championships on Monday at Hoots Hollow Golf Course in Harrisonville with the Eagles sweeping the top five individual spots. The Eagles posted an impressive 309 with all players shooting 79 or under.
Platte County claimed three of the remaining all-conference spots given to the top 10 while all five players were in the top 13. The Pirates finished second out of five teams with a 341 — well back of Grain Valley but 39 shots in front of third-place Belton.
“We knew going into the conference tournament that Grain Valley would be tough to beat,” Platte County coach Trevor Short said. “We had to keep our heads down and focus for the full 18 holes. The wind didn’t help much, but it did make for some interesting shots out on the course today.”
Only No. 1 senior Parker Amos entered having played in a conference tournament twice for Platte County, and fellow senior Jackson Gabbert was the only other member of last year’s Blue Division champion, which was decided on a fifth-score tiebreaker after the Pirates and Smithville finished with same score and Kearney came in just one shot back of them.
Amos became a three-time all-conference finisher, posting an 8-over 80 to place sixth behind Grain Valley’s top five. He placed second in the Blue Division as a junior and third as a sophomore.
Platte County freshman Braden Hendee hits a putt during the Suburban Conference White Division Championships on Monday at Hoots Hollow Golf Course in Smithville.
In his third and final try, Amos sat in a three-way tie for first with Grain Valley’s Owen Herbert and Jaiden Wilson after nine holes after a 36 on the front side. He then scuffled to a 44 on the backside to drop back, while Herbert and Wilson finished 1-2.
Amos continues to serve as the steady, proven leader for Platte County, which entered the season with four players battling for three spots in the lineup. Inconsistencies have plagued the Pirates during the season with Gabbert; sophomores Josh Knickman, Josh Gentilia and Ben Gillilan; and freshman Braden Hendee all showing No. 2 potential at certain points.
In the end, Knickman (83, seventh) and Hendee (88, 10th) claimed all-conference honors for Platte County. Knickman closed with a 39 on the backside to make a push into the spot right behind Amos.
Entering on a run of strong play that pushed him back into the lineup, Gentilia tied for 11th with a 90, while Gabbert became a two-time honorable mention all-conference honoree with a 13th-place finish (91). He came in 15th as a junior.
Now, the postseason officially starts.
Platte County sophomore Josh Gentilia watches a shot during the Suburban Conference White Division Championships on Monday at Hoots Hollow Golf Course in Harrisonville.
Platte County goes into the Class 4 District 4 tournament Monday familiar with The Posse Course at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex. In fact, the Pirates planned a couple of practices to further prepare.
Amos enters having placed third last year to qualify for the Class 4 Missouri State Golf Championships for the first time. Platte County finished sixth out of 11 teams. The criteria remains the same this year with the top two teams automatically qualifying their top four players to state, while the next 12 individuals, which also can include the No. 5 players from those teams, also will earn the right to compete in the two-day state tournament the following week at Sedalia Country Club in Sedalia.
After an off round as a sophomore led to missing the state cut by one shot, Amos shot a 7-over 79 to finish in the top three last year. Gabbert turned in one of his strongest performances last season with a 95 that tied him for 22nd and kept him in contention for a state berth until late in the round.
Platte County then graduated two seniors, and senior Carson Childers graduated early this year and could not return to the team, leading to the major roster turnover.
Platte County senior Jackson Gabbert watches an iron shot during the Suburban Conference White Division Championships on Monday at Hoots Hollow Golf Course in Harrisonville.
Highway 92 Showdown
Platte County concluded the regular season last Wednesday on the Posse Course at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex in Smithville with a third-place finish out of four teams.
Smithville took the title with a 173, while Kearney finished a shot in front of the Pirates for second. The Bulldogs shot a 185.
Gentilia led Platte County’s 186 with a nine-hole 42, going par-birdie-par-par on his final four holes to post the second-best score behind Smithville’s Connor Holcomb. However, the Pirates’ rounded out their team score with Amos’ 45, Knickman’s 49 and Hendee’s 50.
Excelsior Springs finished fourth with a 196.
Northland Invitational
Rescheduled after a rainout earlier in the season, Platte County ended up sixth out of 12 teams last Tuesday on The Posse Course at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex in Smithville.
Amos shot a 14-over 86 to finish in a five-way tie for 11th, one shot outside of the top 10. Knickman came in one shot back with an 87, but Gentilia was well back with a 96, while Gabbert rounded out the top fur scores with a 98.
