Luke Dasher is ranked the number one golfer in the state of Georgia for the class of 2020. That in itself is an amazing accomplishment, but Luke has much more to be proud of. He is three-time all-area, three-time all-state, and is one of only three golfers from Macon to win the Georgia Junior State Championship. Luke also qualified last year to play in the High School World Championship, which included the top 150 players in the world.
Over the past three varsity golf seasons, Luke led the Vikings to a state championship, state runner-up, and a top 5 finish. He has also been instrumental in FPD golf being ranked as one of the top fifty out of over 32,000 teams in the National High School Golf Association.
Love of Golf Begins
Luke started playing golf when he was 3 years old. “I remember because that was how old I was when my brother hit in the head with a golf club while we were playing. I like to think that he knocked golf into me,” Luke jokes.
Luke says he likes golf so much because it’s an “unbeatable sport.” Quoting golf legend Arnold Palmer, he notes, “‘Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated; it satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is at the same time rewarding and maddening – and it is, without a doubt, the greatest game mankind has ever invented.’ This quote is the perfect way to describe golf and is exactly why I play it.”
Signing with Georgia Southern University
With one more season remaining in his high school career, Luke signed with Georgia Southern University on November 15. The Statesboro-based college started recruiting him early, but Luke wanted to explore his options. He visited several other schools in the SEC. In a “save the best for last” moment, Luke visited GSU last. He immediately knew he could see himself there.
“I chose Georgia Southern mainly because of the guys on the team and the coach,” said Luke. “They’ve been extremely nice and welcoming to me. I’ve gotten to know most of them well through playing in tournaments. Ever since I met the head coach Carter Collins, I could see myself playing for him. He knows how to run an amazing program. He has the proof after taking them to the NCAA championship last year.”
Luke knows there will be highs and lows during his golf career, but he is ready. “I know I will be able to learn from all of these experiences, which will help me build character and make me a better player,” he notes.
FPD Golf Coach, Joe Childs, follows that up with a bright outlook for Luke. “Luke has a chance to not only leave FPD as its most distinguished golfer, but potentially the most distinguished high school golfer to play in Macon and even at the state level. He’s just that good,” proclaims Coach Childs.