SMITHVILLE, Mo. — Matt Madill already made history when he signed to golf at Culver Stockton College this past October.
BRYCE MERENESS/Citizen photo
Platte County senior Matt Madill eyes a putt during the Northland Invitational held Monday, April 11 on the Posse Course at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex in Smithville, Mo.
Now, the Platte County senior wants to make more of a mark on the Pirates’ record books by earning a spot on the all-state list during the Class 3 Missouri State Golf Championships set for next month. Only two golfers have finished in the top 15 at state in program history and none more than a decade.
Jeremy Glasbrenner became the first in 1999, and Barrett Martens followed with three straight all-state seasons from 2000-2002, including an individual state title in 2001. He was the first — and most recent — player from Platte County to sign for college golf, inking with the University of Kansas.
“That was my goal coming in as a freshman, to play in college,” Madill said. “It came true. It’s a great feeling. Hopefully, I can keep making more goals and making them come true. I hope to make all-state this year. I need to get it together for sure.”
Madill’s most recent finish provided some more motivation.
The top finisher for Platte County in each of its competitions this year, Madill came in fifth with an 11-over 83 in the Northland Invitational held Monday, April 11 on the Posse Course at Paradise Point Golf Complex. The Pirates finished fourth overall out of 23 teams with a 353 in what coach Trevor Short called a disappointment.
Gary Hennessy came in three shots back of Madill, good enough for ninth, while Jack Laderoute was next with a 91 (tied for 25th). The team score was rounded out with matching 93s from Jagger Zoellner and Payton Boekhout, who played some varsity a season ago.
“The results of this tournament were not what we were hoping for today,” Short said. “We struggled and it showed with our scores. We will just consider this tournament a good practice round for the conference tournament. We learned what to do and what not to do on this course today.”
Despite returning only two players with varsity experience from last year, Short continues to push for better play in time for the Suburban Conference Blue Division Championships, scheduled for later this month at the Posse Course, and then the postseason.
Last season, Platte County entered the season stocked with returners but missed on a team berth for the Class 3 Missouri State Golf Championships, and only departed senior Adam Muehlebach made the individual cut. Madill, a left-hander, went to state as a sophomore and placed 85th but missed reaching state a second time by just one stroke after posting an 11-over 83 at Hoot’s Hollow Golf Course in Harrisonville, Mo in the Class 3 Sectional 4 tournament last year.
Park Hill won the Northland Invitational in a second straight strong tournament showing. The Trojans carded a 326 to win their first tournament since taking the Suburban Conference Red Division championship in 2007.
Davin Dorrel, a sophomore, and Ryan Graves, a freshman, led the way for Park Hill finishing in a tie for third place with matching 8-over 80s. The Trojans pair ended up two strokes behind Smithville’s Jacob Majeske, who repeated as champion with a 6-over 78.
Park Hill junior Kris Snodgrass and senior Tim Cation rounded out the Trojans counting score with a 16-over 88 each, good for a tie for 13th place.
Park Hill Invitational
A pair of top-10 finishes helped the hosts place third in the Park Hill Invitational on Thursday, April 7.
Dorrel shot a 5-over 77 at Tiffany Greens Golf Course, tied for eighth in the individual standings and collected the ninth-place medal on tiebreakers. Snodgrass followed one stroke back for the Trojans, but he missed a medal finish in a four-way tie for the 10th spot.
Park Hill shot a 323, 19 back of team champion Lee’s Summit West.
Despite another big day from Tanner Owen, Park Hill South wound up 11th with a 380. Owen shot a 74 and finished one shot back of winner Kerry Maguire of Lee’s Summit West.
Platte County 185, Smithville 187
Despite a difficult day, the Pirates edged a rival Wednesday, April 6 at Shiloh Springs Golf Course.
Madill collected medalist honors with a 3-over 40 in the nine-hole dual. Boekhout followed with a 44, while the final three Platte County players shot 50, 51 and 52.
“We knew going into this match that it was going to be a battle,” Platte County coach Trevor Short said. “To top it all off the elements were causing a lot of players to post some higher than normal scores. The team found a way to pull out a victory by two strokes.”
Park Hill 181, Staley 186
Ryan Graves led the Trojans from the No. 4 spot on Wednesday, April 6 at Shoal Creek Golf Course in Kansas City, Mo.
Park Hill won the dual by five strokes behind Graves’ 40 and with help from Snodgrass’ 45 and Cation’s 46. Bennett Holloway — Staley’s No. 3 took medalist honors with a 38.