South golf balanced to finish 3rd at Liberty North Invitational

Park Hill South, Platte County and Park Hill finished bunched together in the Liberty North Invitational.

Playing Monday, Aug. 28 at Liberty Hills Golf Course, Park Hill South’s balance made the difference between the schools with the Panthers in third after shooting a team 380. All five of their golfers finished in the top 21, leaving them just five back of second-place Staley and six away from winner Liberty North.

Annie McFee shot an 18-over 90 and placed fourth for Park Hill South’s only medal.

Platte County and Park Hill had two medalists apiece but couldn’t match the consistency of the top three teams. With two each in the top 10, they didn’t have anyone else in the top 25.

Park Hill South’s Sadie Franklin and Kate Eischens just missed a medal, part of a three-way tie for 14th with matching 96s to round out the Panthers’ team score. Olivia Siebert was the No. 5 golfer for Park Hill South, tying for 21st with a 101.

Jessalyn Shipp, a Platte County junior, shot a 16-over 88 and tied for second with Staley’s Alyssa Freeman. Liberty North’s Layke Graybill won the individual title with an 80.

Kasydie Shipp, another junior for Platte County, was part of a four-way tie for 10th and the final medal positions with a 95. The Pirates’ No. 3 score came from Taylor Holbrook (105), and they were fourth in the team standings with a 399.

Park Hill sophomore Ishika Akula shot the best round of her career and place fifth with a 92. Kelbey Emerson, a senior and the only returning top five player for the Trojans, was two shots back in ninth with a 94.

Tessa Poolman, a junior, returned to the lineup for Park Hill and shot a 111. The Trojans were fourth in the team standings with a 410.

Laker Invitational

A weather postponement led Park Hill South to open its season in one of the biggest tournaments of the year. With just one returning player in the top five, the Panthers were seventh out of 22 teams Wednesday, Aug. 23 in the Laker Invitational in Camdenton, Mo.

McFee shot a 90 to finish in a tie for 18th in her Park Hill South varsity debut. Franklin, a returning Class 2 Missouri State Golf Championships, followed two shots back with a 92 — tied for 20th.

Park Hill 208, Lee’s Summit West 225

In the Trojans’ season debut, Emersonwon medalist honors with a 41 at Tiffany Greens Golf Course in Kansas City, Mo.

Akula made her varsity debut with the third best score (52), while Lauren McBride played in the No. 2 spot with a 53. Erin Koelliker rounded out the Trojans’ team score with a 62.

Platte County 202, Kearney 215, Belton 221

The Pirates won a triangular with two Suburban Conference Blue Division rivals Wednesday, Aug. 23.

Coming off a successful first tournament, Platte County bettered Kearney by 13 strokes with Kasydie Shipp winning medalist honors with an 8-over 42, while Jessalyn Shipp shot a 46. Abby White and Holbrook rounded out the Pirates’ team score with matching 57s.

“The team played well enough to put a notch in the win column,” Platte County coach Trevor Short said. “We still have some areas that we need to focus on and improve as we move forward into the rest of our season. We are moving into the busiest section of our season so the team will need to utilize every minute at practice to improve on those skills.”