For the third year in a row, the Platte County Pirates are the best golf team in the Suburban Conference Blue Division.
The Lady Pirates had a team score of 381 to take first place on Monday, Sept. 24 at the league meet at Paradise Pointe Golf Course in Smithville, Mo.
The key to the win for the Pirates over Smithville, a newcomer to the league, was placing four golfers in the top 10.
The all-conference performers featured a runner-up showing from Jessalyn Shipp, who shot 88 and overcame a rocky start. Kasydie Shipp tied for third with Smithville’s Lily Wilkerson at 94, while Eden Shipp, the youngest of the Shipp sisters, shot 97 to tie for sixth place.
Taylor Holbrook shot 102 to take 9th to round out the all-league performers, while McKennah Houlahan shot 115 and took 18th place.
“This one is exciting because there is all three of us here,” Jessalyn Shipp said of winning the league title with her twin sister, Kasydie and younger sister Eden. “It means a lot to the team to be able to win. We have worked hard to build up the team. I’m excited to see what happens in the years to come. I know my freshman year, this wouldn’t never happened.”
Suburban newcomer Smithville was second in the team standings with 410 points, but far behind Platte County’s 381. Kearney took third at 318.
“This was one of the goals we had at the beginning of the year,” Platte County coach Trevor Short said. “This solidifies what kind of team (we have) and the girls have worked hard for the goal. It isn’t the end goal.”
Smithville will host Kearney and Platte County today (Sept. 26) for a match play tournament in what will be called the Highway 92 Showdown with a traveling trophy awarded to the winner.
On Monday, Oct. 1, Platte County, Park Hill and Park Hill South will return to Smithville for the Class 2 District 8 meet on ‘The Outlaw’ course. Park Hill South played that course on Monday during its conference tournament.
Suburban Conference Red Division
Park Hill South had a trio of all-conference performers on Monday, Sept. 24 at the Suburban Red Division championship held at Paradise Pointe in Smithville.
Playing on the par 72 ‘The Outlaw’ course, the Panthers were led by Maddie Hill shot 87 to finish in fifth place. Annie McFee was two shots back and took eighth and Sadie Franklin shot 93 and took 10th. Abby Ervin shot 102 and was one stroke away from an all-conference finish.
Staley won the team title (348) and had the medalist in Ellie Holloway, who won a tiebreaker with an 82.
Suburban Conference Gold Division
Park Hill had a pair of all-conference golfers at the Suburban Gold Division championships at Adam’s Pointe Golf Course in Blue Springs, Mo.
Ishika Akula carded a 95 to take 11th and Mackenzie Resh shot 104 and finished in 14th for the Trojans, who took sixth with a 435.
Blue Springs won the league title (346), behind Lauren Muller’s first-place finish.
Platte County 196, Liberty North 205
The Pirates picked up a win against the Eagles on Thursday, Sept. 20 at Shiloh Springs Golf Course.
Jessalyn Shipp paced the Pirates with a 7-over 44. Eden Shipp came in second for the team with a 48.
Park Hill South 178, Smithville 220
Maddie Hill shot a 38 to earn medalist honors on Wednesday, Sept. 19 in a makeup from earlier this season.
Liberty North Invitational
Platte County took fourth place at the Liberty Invitational held on Monday, Sept. 17 on the ‘The Posse’ course at Paradise Pointe Golf Course.
Kasydie Shipp tied for fourth with an 84, while Jessalyn Shipp shot 85 to tie for eighth for the Pirates. There were 234 teams and 113 players competing in the event.