While most of the Kentucky men’s golf team will be in Louisville, Kentucky this weekend starting the season at the Louisville Cardinal Challenge, Lukas Euler will participate in a different challenge.
The Dieburg, Germany, native and senior UK golfer will travel to the Netherlands for the KLM Open after qualifying for the event in August. The tournament will give Euler a unique opportunity to play against professionals on the European Tour.
It also will create somewhat of a family reunion for Euler. Euler landed in Amsterdam on Monday and was greeted by family, and while this week is about golf, family time will also be included.
The family time will not stop once he tees off on Thursday at 8:05 a.m. ET, because Lukas’ older brother, Johannes, will caddy for him this weekend.
“We talked about it a few weeks ago, and he was like, ‘Yeah, I feel like you know what you’re doing. I don’t have to do much. I just basically tell you if this is a good decision or if I have a different opinion,’” Euler said. “Our relationship is really good.”
Lukas and Johannes picked up the game of golf around age six or seven. Their dad worked for a bank, and they always had a golf tournament every year. Their parents picked up the game because of that which lead to Lukas and his brother learning to play as well.
Having a familiar face around Euler will give him comfort, as he prepares for a European Tour event which will house competition like he hasn’t seen before. He’s ready for it, and as he was talking about it, a smile even appeared on his face.
“The toughest competition I’ve ever played against, I would say,” Euler said. “These guys make their living by playing golf. I see it as a learning experience because I’ve never played on that level before, and it’s definitely not easy as an amateur to be able to play on that level.
“I’m just trying to enjoy it, enjoy the whole week,” Euler said. “Play my best, of course, and see where my game is compared to these guys.”
Euler has played against tough competition before when he represented Germany at the 2014 European Team Championships.
“That’s really important if you get chances to play against tougher competition, and see how you do and try to do your best,” Euler said.
For this weekend, though, Euler will have the benefit of playing in a little better weather than his teammates back in Kentucky. While his teammates will be dealing with temperatures in the 80s and potentially windy and rainy conditions from Hurricane Florence, Euler will receive a much cooler golf experience in the Netherlands.
“The climate is way different than it is here,” Euler said. “It’s like 65 degrees, maybe, probably a little wind too.”
Although Euler is excited to play a European Tour event, he’ll miss not getting to play with his teammates in Louisville this weekend. After conferring with UK head coach Brian Craig, Euler’s decision became easier.
“Of course it’s a tough decision because I want to play for our team here, and I want them to do well with the team, but whenever something like this comes up, I think the decision would be for everyone on the team the same way,” Euler said.
Euler qualified for the ELM Open by way of winning the Dutch Amateur in August. Euler won the tournament in dramatic fashion, winning in a playoff. A par on the par-fourth 10th clinched the victory in the aforementioned playoff. He finished the tournament at 8-under par.
While an impressive accomplishment, Euler was not surprised that he was able to win the Dutch Amateur.
“If you have a really good week, you have a chance, and I actually pulled it off which was great,” Euler said.
Euler’s success this summer comes after an impressive junior campaign. He had a team-high eight top-20 finishes, including a third-place finish at Wolf Run Intercollegiate to help lead UK to its first tournament title of the year. His season also included a pair of runner-up finishes at the Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate and the Steelwood Invitational. Euler is a three-time Academic All-SEC member.
He’ll rejoin his teammates in time for UK’s second fall event later this month.
For the latest on the Kentucky men’s golf team, follow @UKMensGolf on Twitter and on the web at UKathletics.com.
‑ GO CATS –
For more information contact:
Deb Moore
