Platte County senior Lily Ricketts became the first 4-time state qualifer after finishing in 8th place in the Class 3 District 4 Tournament at Jefferson City Country Club on Oct. 6.
PLATTE COUNTY – The entire girls’ golf season has come down to districts where nine individuals from the county clinched a berth to state on Oct. 6.
Platte County had a historical day in the Class 3 District 4 Tournament at Jefferson City Country Club, sending three to state including the first 4-time state qualifier in program history, Lily Ricketts. Park Hill South qualified as a team and Park Hill had two players move on in the Class 4 District 4 Tournament at the Hodge Park Golf Course.
“These ladies battled a very tough course, a state championship caliber course, and played well,” Platte County golf coach Trevor Short said. “These types of events can be a little nerve racking if you are not prepared to handle the stage that you’re on.”
Platte County just missed out on qualifying as a team – something only the top-2 teams get to do – with a 3rd place finish. Ella Green tied for third place with 90 strokes, becoming a 3-time state qualifier as a junior.
“It was warmer at the beginning of the tournament than at the end. A cold front came through about six holes into the tournament bringing strong winds and spitting precipitation, but the ladies did not let it phase them,” Short said.
Ricketts wrapped up her final district tournament with an 8th place finish with 97 strokes. Mac Borland will be making her first trip to state after tying for 12th pace with 101 strokes.
“We’re excited to be making the trip to the state competition. These ladies have worked hard for many years to make it to this level, and it is all paying off. Mac Borland missed going to state her junior year by one stroke and shot the same score this year at districts,” Short said.
Platte County’s final two golfers didn’t quite do enough to keep their seasons alive, but had a nice outing. Grace Handke ended in 30th place and Erin Anderson took 47th place.
“We are extremely excited about how our two sophomores, Handke and Anderson, played. They adjusted to the pressures of the tournament and gained some invaluable experience these last two days,” Short said.
In the Class 4 District 4 Tournament, Park Hill South qualified as a team but not all five players qualified for state. To qualify for state, the top-4 players of the top-2 teams at districts are locked in but the fifth player has to finish within 10 strokes of the cutoff – which was 91 strokes – so Brooke Nichols’ season ended with a 105 strokes’ outing.
Makenna Casey took third place with 77 strokes and Brynlee Justice earned 8th place with 85 strokes. Molly Toohig and Regan Lea both qualified as well with 91 strokes and 98 strokes, respectively.
Park Hill’s Makenna Kincheloe ended in fifth place with 78 strokes and Reagan Bell was the 7th place golfer with 84 strokes as those two will represent the Lady Trojans at state on Oct. 16 and 17. Class 3 State will be at Crown Pointe Golf Club in Farmington, MO, while Class 4 State will be at the Bolivar Golf Course in Bolivar, MO.