Columbus North’s Luke Schneider watches his drive on No. 8 during a match against Columbus East at Otter Creek Golf Course.
The Republic file photo
Luke Schneider was weighing scholarship offers from a few schools, but the closeness of University of Evansville reeled him in.
The Columbus North senior committed Sunday to continue his golf career for the Aces beginning next year.
“They were just very welcoming,” Schneider said. “The school is close to home. My parents will have a chance to come and see me play. A couple of the other schools I was looking at are farther away. I really like the size of the school and the chance I’ll have to play right away.”
Schneider will be the second North graduate to play for Evansville next season. Henry Kiel will be a senior in the fall, and because of the extra year granted to athletes by the NCAA because of the COVID pandemic, Kiel has two years of eligibility remaining.
“I was late in the decision-making process, and he was just really good to me and my family and got me in for a visit,” Schneider said. “He’s a super good friend and a mentor, so the ability to play with him for probably two years really interested me.”
Luke Schneider
Schneider, who was last year’s Republic Boys Golfer of the Year, took his official visit to Evansville about a month ago and enjoyed it.
“I’m happy for Luke,” North coach Doug Bieker said. “Hopefully, everything works out for him down there. He works really hard and has definitely improved his game this year, especially.”
The Aces finished sixth in this year’s Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
“The coach (John Andrews) is a super good dude,” Schneider said. “They play a really solid Division I schedule, so I’ll have an opportunity to win some good tournaments and play some tough competition.”
North will play in the Providence Regional on Thursday, needing a top-three finish to qualify for state. The Bull Dogs last made it in 2019, when Schneider was a freshman.
“I would like nothing more than to make it as a team,” Schneider said. “It’s an absolute joy to go with four other teammates. That’s our first goal.
“I set a goal for myself to finish top 10 in the state, and that’s still a goal,” he added, “(Having committed), it’s just a sense of whatever happens, I have a future ahead of me. It takes some pressure off my shoulders. It lets me go out there and have fun.”
