By Tyler Ellyson / tellyson@columbustelegram.com
COLUMBUS — Jon Luckey couldn't hold back a smile as Central Community College golf coach Britt Blackwell placed a gray and green Raiders cap on his head.
It was a nice fit, much like Blackwell expects Luckey's skills and personality to fit a rebuilding Central golf program.
Blackwell said he's looking for players who are strong athletically and academically as the program enters its 10th year of competition. Luckey matches that description.
The Columbus High senior signed his letter of intent Thursday to golf for the Raiders next fall.
For Luckey, it's an opportunity to continue playing a sport he's enjoyed since his parents introduced him to the game around seven years ago.
"I loved it ever since I started," said Luckey, who joined the CHS team as a freshman and jumped up to varsity his sophomore season.
"It's relaxing," he said. "Getting out on the course and just having the day to myself and just thinking, there's nothing better. I like it. I love it."
Luckey, who has plenty of experience on the Raiders' home course at Elks Country Club, considers himself a team player. He wants to share his knowledge with the other Central players while learning from his teammates.
One thing he's gained as a member of the CHS team is patience.
"When I was younger I got frustrated easily," Luckey said. "Now if I have a bad hole I'm like, alright, I can bounce back from this. I know what I have to do."
That patience helped him card one of his best rounds, a 77, at last year's Kearney Invite, where he finished fourth. Luckey was nine strokes off the state-qualifying mark during the Class A-3 district meet in 2015 and the Discoverers were six shots back from making the state tournament as a team.
"That's what we're looking forward to this year," he said. "We want to make it as a team and we want everybody to make it individually."
CHS head golf coach Rick Benson believes Luckey's work ethic can help the Discoverers accomplish that goal in a strong Class A field.
"He loves the sport of golf and obviously puts in a tremendous amount of time both during the season and during the offseason in the summer," Benson said. "His skills have developed over the years and he's become a much better player."
Benson isn't surprised Luckey will get the opportunity to play college golf since he works just as hard in the classroom.
"They want the good player, but they also want the quality individual, and they're getting that with Jon," the CHS coach said.
Luckey, who chose Central because of its proximity to his hometown, plans on studying business administration and accounting at the local community college.
He expects to continue his academics at a four-year school, and wouldn't pass on the opportunity to keep playing golf wherever he lands.
"I'd very much like to do that," Luckey said.