On Sunday morning, Ethan Luecke wasn’t even sure he would physically be capable of competing in the MSHSAA Championships. Two days later, he was walking off the course at Sedalia Country Club with the second-lowest score and highest finish in school history. The Warrenton junior dropped 10 pounds over the past week while battling mononucleosis, but it didn’t prevent him from finishing as the runner-up at this year’s Class 3 state golf tournament. “It’s unbelievable,” expressed Luecke. “It’s more than I can show joy for. I can’t thank God enough.” He had entered the field with a simple goal of landing among the Top 15 and being named to the all-state team. But Luecke surpassed his own modest expectations. He carded a combined score of 145, tying Andrew Lilly of MICDS for second place. “What a great, gutty performance by a young man to come out here and shoot a 145,” asserted Coach Rich Barton. “That’s huge for our program.” Still, the sting of losing a steady lead on the 15th hole of his final round was hard to stomach with the state title having been within grasp. “I’m feeling ecstatic and disappointed at the same time for him, because I know how close he was to winning,” added Barton. After shooting an 80 at sectionals, Luecke shaved 10 strokes off between rounds, recording an even par at 70 during the first day on the state course. He entered the second round of play with a two-stroke edge over the field. “I was pretty happy,” admitted Luecke, who shot a 35 on both the front and back nine. “I mean, being first in the state after the first day — that’s phenomenal.” Paired with a more elite group of colleagues on Tuesday, Luecke continued his consistent, calm-natured approach. He battled closely with Lilly, who knotted the standings early in the round. Luecke led by as many as three strokes and was -1 heading into the back nine. Trailing by four strokes going into hole No. 11, eventual champion Jack Litzelfelner of Notre Dame began to make his resurgence. Meanwhile, Luecke recorded multiple bogeys during a troublesome stretch. While he managed to avoid erratic play and stay out of the hazards, Luecke dropped consecutive drives short of the green. He entered hole No. 15 with a two-stroke advantage, but took a bogey after having to chip out of the rough. Litzelfelner made up the margin with a birdie. “We were tied after that, and I felt like the momentum was going on my side on holes 16 through 18,” acknowledged Litzelfelner, who moved ahead on hole No. 17. The late-round letdown was disappointing for Luecke, who had been solid through 27 holes.  “On the front nine I was feeling pretty confident and was full of energy,” he explained. “But then I kind of lost a little confidence in my shots and started second-guessing and thinking too much. It got me into a pitfall and went downhill from there.” Luecke completed the round with a 75. Miraculous Recovery The significance of Luecke’s accomplishment was amplified by his health circumstance. Following his sectional round, he had fallen severely ill, becoming malnourished and missing several days of school. “On Thursday and Friday, we didn’t have much hope,” said Barton. “We just weren’t sure what was going to happen.”  Barton says he was simply determined that his most experienced golfer not miss out on such a coveted opportunity. “I was thinking about telling coach that I couldn’t make it this year,” acknowledged Luecke. “Then I started taking some medicine and got some of my energy back.” He made the trip to Sedalia on Sunday but opted out of his practice round to preserve his strength for tournament play. Luecke says he woke up feeling refreshed on Monday, ready to tackle the laborsome task of lugging a golf bag 18 holes. “I was feeling really relaxed and was pretty full strength,” said Luecke. “I really didn’t get tired until the end.” He retreated to his hotel room for a nap, followed by dinner and more sleep. Luecke remained confident heading into the second day, but with 90-degree temperatures taking their toll, fatigue began to set in during the final nine holes. “You could see he wore down toward the end of the round in the heat,” lamented Barton. Luecke admits there was tension knowing a state championship was on the line but says he was oblivious as to where he stood among the field on Day 2. “It was a pressure-filled round,” said Luecke. “I just had to try to keep my mind off my score and take it one shot at a time.” The Power of One Luecke has learned the reality of golf’s disappointments first-hand over the past three seasons. One stroke can cost a player royally, and no golfer knows better than Warrenton’s most distinguished competitor. Luecke missed qualifying for the state tournament by one stroke as a freshman. He overcame the obstacle last spring, only to fall one spot short of all-state recognition. On Tuesday, he found himself one stroke away from being crowned the Class 3 state champion. With his senior year remaining, there’s only one major goal evading Luecke. “Hopefully next year I can break that trend,” he quipped, cracking a smile while considering the possibilities that still await him.

Warrenton junior Ethan Luecke finished second at the MSHSAA Golf Championships by shooting a combined 145 through two rounds.

Derrick Forsythe Photo.