SMITHVILLE, Mo. — Platte County shows the flashes but has yet to have all five players perform up to capability at the same time.
NICK INGRAM/Citizen photo
Platte County senior Payton Boekhout hits an approach shot during the Oak Park Invitational on Monday, April 10 on the Posse Course at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex in Smithville, Mo.
The Pirates placed fifth in the Oak Park Invitational on Monday, April 10 at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex with a team total of 350 — up slightly from their tournament debut the previous week. Payton Boekhout, a senior, turned in his best performance of the season with a 10-over 82 and placed in a tie for 11th, solidly in the medal spots (top 15).
However, Platte County ended up just six strokes out of fourth place and 23 shots back of winner Rockhurst.
“I thought the team did a good job today,” Platte County coach Trevor Short said. “I feel that we are making progress as a team and are continually getting better as the season progresses. A few of the schools that were in the field are schools that we will see in the postseason, so it was a good gauge as to where we stand at as a team.”
Platte County appears to have the pieces in place.
Tanner Burkin posted the No. 2 score for the Pirates on Monday with an 87, part of a three-way tie for 16th — one shot out of the medals. Bradley Poos (90) stepped up with a solid round out of the No. 5 spot, while freshman Logan Hessemyer (91) rounded out the team score.
Jack Laderoute, a junior and a top returner, ended up with a disappointing 95.
NICK INGRAM/Citizen photo
Park Hill’s Davin Dorrell hits an iron shot during the Oak Park Invitational on Monday, April 10 on the Posse Course at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex in Smithville, Mo.
Park Hill (367) and Park Hill South (402) were further back in the team standings.
Seventh overall, Park Hill continued to play without two-time Class 4 Missouri State Golf Championships qualifier Kris Snodgrass — still out with an injury. Ryan Graves and Davin Dorrell shot matching 89s to lead the Trojans.
“We are struggling a bit as a team,” Park Hill coach Zach Dorrell said. “We are hoping to gain some more consistency and drop a stroke or two per player overall on their nine hole average.”
Park Hill South played its junior varsity in the varsity tournament and finished 13th out of 23 teams. Blaine Feaster shot a 95, but Panthers coach Tracy Mangels continues to play his roster in as many tournaments as possible with competition still open for the top five spots in the lineup.
“The guys that played there would tell you that there is room for improvement,” Mangel said, “so it is a good thing that we have more time to practice and concentrate on the things that we need work on.”
Smith-Cotton Invitational
Park Hill South’s top team went to Sedalia, Mo. on Monday, April 10 and shot a 330, seventh out of 20 teams in a bunched field. Rock Bridge won the team title with a 304, but the next 13 teams were separated by just 40 strokes.
Zach Bischler continued to be Park Hill South’s top player, finishing in a three-way tie for seventh with a 77 to earn a medal for the first time this season in a tournament. Chris Walker and Jay Threadgill posted matching 81s for the Panthers, tying for 21st.
Raymore-Peculiar Tournament
Platte County opened its tournament season with a 339, edging Staley by one stroke for fourth in the team standings in an event played Friday, April 7. The Pirates didn’t have any medalists but posted five consistent scores.
Hessemyer led the way with an 83, tied for 14, with Boekhout one shot back with an 84. Austin Accord and Laderoute rounded out the team score with matching 86s.
Park Hill South finished 10th with Carson Dodd shooting an 87 for the Panthers’ best score.
Darren Floyd Memorial Tournament
Park Hill South edged Park Hill by nine strokes in the team standings Thursday, March 10 in Kansas City, Mo. The two teams finished back-to-back at ninth and 10th in the 17-team field.
Zach Bischler led Park Hill South with an 8-over 80 at Tiffany Greens Golf Course, placing in a four-way tie for 13th. Medals were given to the top 12 individual finishers, and Bischler again just missed the cut, similar to his other early season tournaments.
Park Hill’s Graves turned in a season-best 72 and finished alone in third, one shot behind co-medalists Sam Parrott of Liberty and Drew Neuerberg of Liberty North. The Trojans did not have another player finish in the top half of the individual standings.
Chris Walker (86) and Jay Threadgill (87) finished back-to-back to help Park Hill South’s team standing. The Panthers’ 346 total was just five back of Smithville.