W hat drives the Webster boys' golf team in 2013 is not all the wins last season, but the memory of the one and only loss at the State B Meet by one stroke on the second playoff hole.
After breezing through the regular season with an undefeated record, the Bearcats were tied with White River at 515 strokes each after the first two days of the state tournament. The two teams remained tied after one sudden death playoff hole. At the end of the second playoff hole, White River won by virtue of one stroke.
"We never lost a meet last year until the second day of the state tournament," said Webster coach Brian Lux, who is in his 13th season as the head coach and 26 years overall as a coach. "We got better as the year went on. It was a magical year."
Webster graduated two key seniors, Josh Gaikowski and Josh Hoven, but return Spencer Lux, who finished 13th individually at state, and Blake Wilkinson, who tied for 25th.
"We lost two good seniors from last year, but hopefully we'll have other kids that step up into their places and that's what we need to be competitive. We might not win everything this year, but we'll take it as it goes," said Brian Lux.
The Bearcats top golfer, Spencer Lux, returns for his senior season.
"Spencer won about everything that we entered last year. He's been our number-one golfer since seventh grade. He's been to the state tournament four years and hopefully a fifth this year. He's very consistent. He hits it a long ways off the tee. His irons are good and he can hit the short game," said Brian Lux.
A little bit of his baseball game carries over into his golf game, as Spencer Lux likes to hit home runs off the tee.
"I go for the long ball (in golf) and sometimes I can control it. I'm long off the tee," said Spencer, 18. "My short game is a work in progress. Eventually, I'll get it under control."
Lux has never had a hole-in-one, but his best score is a 68 (4 under par). He shot that last year in a tournament hosted by Deuel. Lux has been within inches of an ace three to four times in his career.
As far as personal goals for this season, Lux does not have a particular score in mind, but his team goals revolve around a possible return to the state tournament May 20-21 at the Brookings Country Club.
"I want to help my team throughout the year," he said. "After getting second last year, we'd like to get there again this year. We had a huge group of guys out last year and this year it's down to eight, but we still have the talent to challenge. We were there last year, so why can't we do it again this year?"
The Bearcats biggest enemy this season has been the weather as Webster still has plenty of snow on the ground. The boys' golf team practiced outside for the first time on Wednesday, but had to play around some major winter hazards - snow banks.
"We hope for the best," said coach Brian Lux. "It would be nice to get back to the state tournament and be in the top five. There are very good teams in the state. We need to put it together down the stretch and play well."
Webster has already lost one tournament to a cancellation and the Webster Invitational home meet was postponed to April 19. Next up on the schedule is the Hamlin Invitational on Thursday.
- Spencer Lux
- Family: Parents Brian and Lois Lux; and brothers, Carter (22) and Tanner (19).
- Other sports: Baseball, basketball, football.
- Favorite player: Professional golfer Tiger Woods.
- Favorite team: Toronto Raptors in NBA.
- Favorite golf course: Britton Country Club.
- Future plans: Attend Southeast Technical Institute in Sioux Falls for law enforcement.
- Most memorable athletic moments: "Playing with my brother (Tanner) as a freshman and having my dad coach me."