Park Hill's Snodgrass, Graves earn state golf berths

Kris Snodgrass made the most of his limited time on the course this season.

In just his third tournament of the season, the Park Hill senior fired an 8-over 80 on Monday, May 8 in the Class 4 Sectional 4 tournament at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex in Smithville, Mo. He just made the cut to earn his third straight Class 4 Missouri State Golf Championships berth. 

Snodgrass finished in a five-way tie for 18th, which ended up being the cut line for the final individual berths not from the two automatic qualifying teams (Rockhurst and Liberty North). Park Hill’s Ryan Graves was also part of that tie at 80 and became a first-time state qualifier.

In two previous trips to state, Snodgrass has struggled and finished tied for 80th as a sophomore and tied for 86th as a junior.

Park Hill qualified four individuals for sectional play and was one of nine teams competing in the team standings. Only four automatic berths are given to teams for sectional play, meaning five other teams sent at least four individual qualifiers.

In the end, Park Hill wound up seventh with a 343 — 32 shots back of runner-up Liberty North. Randen Plattner and Davin Dorrell finished back-to-back in ties for 41st (19-over) and 44th (20-over) and were well off the cut line for the Trojans.

This marked the second straight season Park Hill sent four to sectionals with Graves just missing the state cut in 2016 — two shots off the cut line. Dorrell was also a repeat sectional qualifier, while Plattner made his first appearance in the second round of the postseason.

Park Hill also finished seventh as a team in 2016.

Park Hill South didn’t have a state qualifier this season with all three golfers at sectionals missing the cut. Jay Threadgill led the Panthers with a 10-over 82 and ended up just two strokes off, while Zach Bischler struggled after a solid season and posted a 16-over.

Joe Leluga rounded out Park Hill South’s day, shooting 25-over.