Center Grove High School golfer Luke Beetz was almost too good to be believed.
The Trojans captured the 36-hole at the boy’s golf state championship on June 16 at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel.
“It did not set in at first that we won the state championship,” said Beetz, who will be a senior this fall. “People have been congratulating me a lot lately, and it is a great feeling. I did not perform as well as I wanted to at state, but I had a good overall season to lead into it. I am glad my teammates were able to help me.”
Although Beetz struggled in the state finals with 86-84-170 total, he was one of the Trojans’ top golfers during the season.
“It was the driver that was giving me trouble,” Beetz said. “I could not find the fairway, unfortunately. However, I was playing solid golf leading up to the tournament.”
Beetz was second on the team and fourth overall in the sectional. He scored a 75 at The Legends Golf Club in Franklin. Beetz was also fourth on the team with a 78 in the Providence Regional at Champions Pointe Golf Club in Henryville.
Beetz, Center Grove Icon Athlete of the Month, had a 76.8 average for 18 holes.
“Luke had an all-state caliber performance this golf season,” Center Grove boy’s golf coach Matthew Rodman said. “He was a critical component to a state championship golf team. He is a hard worker, leader, and great teammate.”
The turning point for the Trojans came after the worst performance of the season.
“After the Hall of Fame Tournament at Rock Hollow Golf Club in Peru, our worst tournament of the year, we came in fifth place (out of 21 teams),” Beetz said. “Our whole team shot in the 80s. The conditions were pretty rough. I rebounded at the MIC tournament at Wood Wind (in Westfield). I shot a 69, so that was a way to bounce back. We beat Carmel to win the MIC (Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference).
Beetz finished second on May 3 in the MIC tournament. He also placed second in the Trojan Classic and Floyd Central Invitational.
Following the high school season, Beetz began a summer of junior tournaments. He finished tied for 26th in the Indiana Junior PGA Championship at Rock Hollow June 23-24. Beetz shot a pair of 78s.
“I think is my strength is my short game,” he said. “I usually find a way to get up and down from most places. I hope to keep it that way.”
Beetz plans to practice every day this summer. He lives in the community around Dye’s Walk Country Club in Greenwood, so he golfs whenever he gets the chance. Beetz started golfing in the sixth grade with his father and younger brother, James, an incoming Center Grove freshman.
“I used to play basketball, but after freshman year, I took it down to one sport and decided to focus on golf,” he said.
The Trojans graduated two seniors, Sam Slaughter and Brandon Heffner, from the state finals starting lineup. Slaughter and Heffner will play for Marian University next season.
“We have 17 players coming back from our red and white squads, and we have a good group of freshmen coming in, too,” Beetz said.
The Luke Beetz File
Age: 17
Height: 5-foot-9
Class: Luke will be a senior this fall
Hobbies: Fishing
College plans: Luke hopes to play collegiate golf and major in mechanical engineering
Favorite athlete: Tiger Woods
Favorite subject: Math
Favorite genre of music: Country
Favorite vacation spot: Florida
Parents: Leah and Jamison Beetz
