SMITHVILLE, Mo. — When the finally scores came in, Park Hill got five golfers through to the sectionals.
However, it didn’t come with a district plaque.
The Trojans finished in third place in the team standings at the Class 4 District 8 meet on Monday, April 30. Park Hill shot 338, coming up three shots behind St. Joseph Central for the second plaque handed out after play wrapped up on the Posse course at Paradise Pointe Golf Course.
Despite coming up short, the individual scores were low enough for Park Hill to send all five golfers — one more than last year — onto the sectional meet on Monday, May 7, in Raymore, Mo. Park Hill South had three advance, two of which earned all-district honors.
CODY THORN/Citizen photo
Park Hill junior Ryan Graves watches a Tee shot at the Class 4 district 8 tournament on the Posse Course of the Paradise Pointe Golf Complex in Smithville, Mo.
“Would’ve, should’ve, could’ve deal,” Park Hill coach Zach Dorrell said. “With wind like today, I told the boys before we started never think you are out of it because it will come down to a shot here and there.
“It is tough. Three shy of St. Joe Central. We can play as a team; this time of a year, you keep on moving on.”
The entire field dealt with brutal wind, though they played under sunshine for one of the few times this spring. The wind varied from earlier in the day — there was an 8:30 a.m. start — but by mid-afternoon the winds were gusting nearly 40 miles per hour.
“It magnifies a miss,” Dorrel said.
Ryan Graves shot the lowest score for the Trojans by shooting a 5-over 77 to finish third. He was two shots behind the runner-up Michael Garcia of Liberty and three back of district champion Bennett Holloway of Staley. Liberty won the district title with a 318.
“It is good,” Graves said. “The conditions were rough but it feels good to post a good score heading into sectionals. I was playing here on out with mindset of survive and advance. I was thinking low 80s, but I’ll take it.”
Graves was aided by avoiding big scores, having nothing higher than a bogey on his card.
Grant Schumacher tied for 10th for Park Hill with an 83, while Park Hill South’s Harrison Feaster shot 84 to take 12th and Jay Threadgill shot 85 to place 14th.
“It was extremely windy, so you had to take it one shot at a time,” said Feaster, a first-time all-district pick.
Over the last six holes, Feaster avoided a high number and posted on birdie and five pars to close on a high note.
The cut to move onto the sectionals — the top 15 from non-qualifying teams — was at 92.
Park Hill’s Davin Dorrell (88), Joey Keeth and Randen Plattner (90) made the cut, as well as Park Hill South’s Kevin Ryan (89).
Park Hill South’s Joe Leluga shot 93, becoming the unfortunate distinction of being the first golfer to miss the cut.
Class 3 District 8
The golf season for Platte County wrapped up for most of the team on Monday, April 30, at the Class 3 District 8 Tournament at the Excelsior Springs Golf Course.
Logan Hessemeyer and Jack Laderoute advanced for the Pirates out of the 53-golfer field.
Hessemeyer took third place in the field with an 11-over 83, earning all-district honors. Laderoute tied for 14th with a 92 to also secure all-district accolades.
The cutline to advance to sectional was 94 and Bradley Poos just came up short with a 97. Matt Blaha shot 99 and Brady Wright shot 107.
“It was a rough day for the Pirates and the rest of the field,” Platte County coach Trevor Short said. “The super windy conditions and a tough course caused the scores to be a little higher than usual. The team battled had and we managed to get two players through to the next tournament, but it also marked the end of the season for three.”
The Pirates tied for fifth with Exclesior Springs at 371. St. Pius X won the district title with a 337, while Smithville’s team also advances with a runner-up finish.
Platte County heads to Smithville on Monday, May 7, for the sectional meet at Paradise Pointe Golf Course, playing the ‘Posse’ Course.