Approaching the tee box on hole No. 6 at Warrenton Golf Course, a group of teenagers squawk over an enormous home overlooking the fairway. Ethan Luecke is among the group, but he’s not impressed. …
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Golf Is Perfect Sport for Luecke
Posted
By Derrick Forsythe, Record Sports Editor
Approaching the tee box on hole No. 6 at Warrenton Golf Course, a group of teenagers squawk over an enormous home overlooking the fairway.Ethan Luecke is among the group, but he’s not impressed. He does his best to fake amazement.“Yeah, it’s pretty nice,” quips the Warrenton junior.Luecke lives in the house. It’s big and attention-grabbing, much like his game, but nothing like his personality.“He’s very quiet and unassuming, just going about his business” explains Coach Rich Barton.Luecke has plenty to gloat about it, including the fact his family owns the course.But that’s not his character.His demeanor is about as gentle and calm-mannered as the game he loves to play.“It is kind of the best sport for me, because I wouldn’t be that guy who pumped everybody up before a basketball game,” confesses Luecke.It’s perhaps that selfless, care-free attitude which has enabled him to handle the disappointment thrown his way the past two seasons.“Golf is such a humbling sport that it makes you tougher and helps you grow as a person too,” said Barton.His rise to success has been an incremental climb.Luecke narrowly missed qualifying for the MSHSAA Championships his freshman season after a misruling at sectionals. Last spring he advanced to state, only to fall one spot short of earning a medal. “He’s battled through the disappointments,” said Barton. “For a young kid, he’s handled it pretty well.”What has Luecke learned from these heartbreaking episodes.“It just shows me that every stroke counts,” he acknowledges.Fortunately, there’s still time for the lifelong golfer. His goals are always modest, and this season is no exception.“Now all that’s left is becoming all-state,” asserts Luecke. “Winning it all would be nice, but I want to be all-state.”Luecke has been a leader since he joined the program. He played the No. 1 spot as a sophomore, often leaving his teammates enamored by his unshakable demeanor on the course.Possibly the best advice he’s ever given a teammate came in the form of unspoken words. In the midst of a bad round, Luecke doesn’t come unglued.“It’s one thing to be a leader and it’s another to back it up,” said Barton. “He’s very consistent and that’s what the kids see.”Luecke simply maintains his composure and analyzes the flaws, albeit few, in his game.“I don’t get uptight,” said Luecke.“My main focus is that he remembers to enjoy the game and have fun,” said Barton. “I see that on a daily basis with Ethan.”Luecke struggled through the first round of the state tournament last season, shooting a 78. He recovered with a 73 on the second day but couldn’t make up enough ground to medal.“He knows how to get himself out of trouble,” said Barton. “When he does hit a bad shot, he doesn’t let that compound.”Barton never expected a 151 would stand outside the Top 15 among an astonishingly low group of scores at state.“Next year I’m going to make sure this doesn’t happen again,” Luecke promised himself. “The (adversity) has made me more determined.”He worked on fine-tuning his game during the offseason, making major adjustments to his swing.“I’ve put in a lot of time over the winter,” said Luecke. “Lately, it’s been paying off because I’ve played a lot better and more consistent.”The weather has kept many golfers clubs idle, but not Luecke, who takes advantage of his indoor practice equipment.“I’ve improved my ball striking a lot,” said Luecke. “That’s probably the strongest part of my game.”He acknowledges his putting ability is weakest, although it would be superior to most opponents. It’s something he will continue perfect, as he prepares for a run at consecutive state medals.“I think if I play the way I know I’m capable of, I can win just about win every tournament,” said Luecke.
Warrenton junior Ethan Luecke is determined to earn All-State accolades this season. He finished 16th at the MSHSAA Championships in 2012.
