Platte County’s lengthy match winning streak came to a conclusive finish.
In a season-opening 18 hole triangular with Liberty North and Kearney, the Pirates finished with a 355 and lost by 38 strokes to the host Tuesday, March 21 in Liberty, Mo. They entered the season unbeaten in duals each of the past two seasons.
Liberty North won the match with a 317, while Kearney shot 339.
The defending Suburban Conference Blue Division champions, Platte County struggled with Payton Boekhout carding an 84, while Logan Hessemeyer (90), Tanner Burkin (90) and Jack Laderoute (91) were tightly bunched for coach Trevor Short’s lineup. The Pirates only returned two golfers from last year’s top five — Boekhout and Laderoute — while Boekhout, a senior, was the lone player in the top five two years ago.
Boekhout and Laderoute were also All-Blue Division performers a year ago, helping Platte County top Kearney for the league title. The Pirates have another dual up next, Monday, March 27 vs. North Kansas City before opening tournament play in the Winnetonka Tournament on Wednesday, March 29.