Kortney Rogers doesn’t mind playing No. 3 for Platte County or battling teammates for top honors in a balanced lineup. The senior is just glad to be back on the course with the Pirates.
“I love my teammates. I love my coach. I’m really excited to be back,” she said after the Pirate Invitational on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at Shiloh Springs Golf Course in Platte City.
Rogers missed a three-way tie for the final medalist spot in Platte County’s home tournament but posted a 27-over 99, topping the Pirates on this day alone in 12th and just one shot out of the top 10. She’s playing behind freshmen sisters Jessalyn and Kasydie Shipp after spending last season as a student at Plattsburg (Mo.) High School.
Knowing she might move back to Platte County, Rogers didn’t play golf for the Tigers, clearing any eligibility issues away for this year’s return. She kept up with the game in some summer tournaments, but the high school season upped her regimen.
Rogers hopes to round back into form after some recent struggles, looking for a bid to the Class 2 Missouri State Golf Championships after reaching the sectional round with Platte County as a freshman and sophomore.
“Go hard or go home,” Rogers said.
Rogers started on No. 12 in the Pirate Invitational and recorded pars on Nos. 3 and 14. She played her first eight holes at 10-over but faltered down the stretch, admitting to some fatigue.
However, Platte County did enough to place fourth out of nine teams in the field with at least four players, although a few, including Park Hill, did not field full varsity lineups. The Pirates totaled a 409 with No. 2 Kasydie Shipp (104, tied for 17th) and Jessalyn Shipp (105, tied for 21st) also off their normal scores.
The freshmen duo entered off medalist finishes at last week’s St. Joseph Central Invitational but were well back of the top 10 on their home course.
“I think we could have done better,” Kasydie Shipp said. “We all try to be the best we can. (The competition) does help. It makes us want to be better.”
Emma Reynolds, who plays at No. 4, showed the depth of Platte County’s small roster by shooting a 101 to finish in between Rogers and the Shipp sisters.
The Pirates were 23 shots back of third-place Park Hill South, which grabbed a pair of medalist spots in a team total of 386. Grace Dunker shot an 89, good enough for fourth place behind team champion Smithville’s top-three sweep, and Miranda Steczak came in with a 93 and tied for fifth.
Park Hill placed seventh with a 459, playing without junior star Sam Paulak and No. 2 Kelbey Emerson. However, Lexi Grego placed eighth with a 96 to win a medal.
Oak Park Quad
Platte County finished third out of four teams on The Posse Course at Paradise Point Golf Complex in Smithville, Mo. The Pirates shot 198 with Kasydie and Jessalyn Shipp leading the way with matching 11-over 46s.
St. Joseph Central 219, Platte County 240
The Pirates struggled in a loss Monday, Sept. 14 at Shiloh Springs Golf Course in Platte City. Jessalyn Shipp led the way at 14-over 51 in a young lineup with mixed experience, according to Platte County coach Trevor Short.
Rogers and Reynolds did not play.
Notre Dame de Sion Tournament
Park Hill South finished 13th out of 19 teams with a team total of 399 on Monday, Sept. 14 in Kansas City, Mo.
Dunker finished with a 92. Izzy Nitzel shot 100, and Steczak carded a 101. Ali Buehler provided the final counting score for the Panthers with a 106.
Park Hill South 192, Park Hill 198
The Panthers’ balanced effort proved just enough to top their rivals Thursday, Sept. 10 at Tiffany Greens Golf Course in Kansas City, Mo.
Grace Cunningham, playing at No. 5, highlighted the performance with a 50, matching No. 2 Dunker’s score. Steczak led Park Hill South with a 44, while Buehler produced a 49 from the No. 3 spot.
Park Hill’s Sam Paulak took medalist honors with a 42 but didn’t go low enough to make up the six-stroke team score difference. Grego shot a 49, but the last two scores for the Trojans were 53 and 54.