The golf season for three Platte County Pirates will continue for at least one more week after the Class 3 District 8 tournament.
On Monday, April 29, the Pirates finished third overall in the field at Paradise Pointe Golf Course in Smithville. Platte County shot 358, but came in behind Kirksville (350) and Smithville (345) to earn one of the top automatic qualifying spots for the sectional tournament that will be Monday, May 6 in Excelsior Springs.
“We knew Smithville would probably take it and we had to play some high-quality golf to move on,” Platte County coach Trevor Short said. “We didn’t know much about Kirksville. We don’t ever see them in the regular season. We gotta go out and play our own game and worry about yourself and if it falls into place, it does. Today, we were close. We shot good but it wasn’t our lowest, but we got three in the 80s so I can’t complain.”
Platte County had three golfers in the top 15 to earn all-district honors.
Logan Hessemyer, a two-time state qualifier, shot 80 and tied for third place in the field. First-year golfer Blake Minyard shot 88 to tie for ninth place and senior Brady Wright wrapped up the group with an 89 and tied for 12th.
Wright and Minyard are first-time sectional qualifiers and will be returning to a course where they played in April during the Liberty Invitational.
Wright noted he struggled early on Monday, but closed well, which included a birdie on No. 17.
“It was a good experience, I’m excited to be there (sectionals),” Wright said. “I had a shot last year but didn’t make the cut. Being a senior, I really wanted to get there this year.”
Grant Gomel (101) and Alex Stallo (107) rounded out the Pirates’ scores.
Class 4 District 8
Park Hill and Park Hill South will be sending the entire team onto the next round of the state postseason following the weather-shortened Class 4 District 8 tournament held on Tuesday, April 30 at Paradise Pointe in Smithville.
The Trojans were fourth and the Panthers took fifth in the team standings. The top two teams automatically moves onto the sectional round, which will be Monday, May 6 at Tiffany Greens Golf Course.
The event started almost two hours later than planned due to weather and only nine holes were completed.
Park Hill’s Grant Schumacher was the runner-up, shooting 37, one back of Liberty North’s Tanner Collins.
Ryan Graves carded an 40 to take fifth place for Park Hill. The Trojans final three were separated by one shot. Jack Ficken shot 47, while Joey Keeth and Vince King shot 48.
Park Hill South’s Jay Threadgill shot 45 to lead his team. Carson Dodd, Jack Bjorn and Sterling Scott were a shot behind, while Kevin Ryan was one of the final qualifiers and shot 48. Eight different players moved on after tying for the 20th place.
Smithville 145, Platte County 169, Kearney 181
In the Highway 92 Showdown on Wednesday, April 24, the Warriors took home the traveling trophy.
The Warriors had a pair of golfers share the medalist honors, as Nick Nielsen and Trace Walters each shot 36 at Paradise Pointe Golf Course in Smithville.
Logan Hessemyer led the way for the Pirates by shooting 38.
Park Hill 173, Kearney 189
In a match at Tiffany Springs Golf Course, the Trojans beat the Bulldogs on Thursday, April 25.
Ryan Graves secured medalist honors with a 40 for Park Hill.
Park Hill South 8, Park Hill 2
The first annual Park Hill Cup will go to Park Hill South.
The two teams met on Wednesday, April 24 at The Deuce at The National Golf Course in Parkville in a match-play format. Each team had 10 golfers compete and the Panthers won all but two of those head-to-head matchups.
Park Hill South got a win from Jay Threadgill against Ryan Graves, 3 and 2. Park Hill’s Grant Schumacher won by the same score against Kevin Ryan.
Other wins for Park Hill South came from Carson Dodd (3 and 2), Jack Bjorn (1 and 0), Blaine Feaster (3 and 2), Nick Ryan (2 and 1), Phen Hardin (3 and 2), James Ranes (3 and 2), Tyler Unrath (2 and 1) and Andrew Leak (3 and 2).