Sports editor
Not even rain and high winds could stop him.
Marion senior Luke Gordon braved wet weather Friday at Hillsboro Municipal Golf course to shoot a 35 and win the shortened, nine-hole tournament.
He was the only golfer under par in what was his second victory in as many meets this season after taking first April 7 at the Herington invitational.
There, he shot a 72, nine strokes better than the next-closest competitor.
Co-head coach Tod Gordon said extra work in the offseason, as well as after practice, is paying off for the senior.
“Luke, on several occasions this year, has gone out and played an extra nine holes after the golf practice has ended,” Coach Gordon said.
The future Kansas City Kansas Community College golfer was in the rain Easter Sunday practicing his game.
“I was very surprised to see Luke going to play golf in the rain on Sunday,” his coach said.
Tod Gordon said it started with Luke putting in effort during his high school off seasons with summer amateur leagues.
However, as good as Gordon has been, it has not been him alone who has led MHS to a great start to the season.
Consistent play from golfers 1-6 has been the key.
Number two and three Warrior golfers, Landon Leiker and Lindsay Hett, have been solid in the two meets.
In the season-opening victory at Herington, MHS won by nine strokes by getting four golfers in the top-21.
Leiker and Hett both shot an 18-hole round of 87, with Leiker taking 10th place and a medal on a scorecard tiebreak.
At Hillsboro, Leiker earned another medal with a 42 and a ninth-place finish, while Hett was just one stroke behind in 12th place.
“(They) will have a great year,” Tod Gordon said. “(They) also put in extra hours beyond practice time, working on their game.”
The 3-5 spots are still up for grabs Gordon said, with Niklas Bronnert, Scott Jones, and Tim Costello filling them at Herington and Hillsboro.
Bronnert was 21st and 22nd in the two tournaments, while Jones and Costello were not far behind.
“Scott and Niklas are very close to shooting some good scores,” Coach Gordon said.
Scott’s older brother, Ryan, who is a distance runner on the track and field squad, has yet to get on the course for the Warriors.
Gordon said he will be swinging his clubs for Marion as soon as it does not conflict with the track season.
“He has the potential to help the varsity team,” Gordon said of the junior.
The coach also said freshmen Jared Vondenkamp and Adam Molleker, as well as sophomore Jordan Versch, each are working hard to compete for the sixth spot.
If one were to break in, it could push Costello out of the final varsity spot.
The sophomore struggled a bit with a 114 at Herington (a 57, nine-hole average), but bounced back with a 50 at Hillsboro.
“Tim is working hard to keep his spot on varsity,” Tod Gordon said.
The Warriors are off until Monday when they play at Council Grove.