When asked how it felt to be named the Northeast Conference Men’s Golfer of the Week, Kevin Josephson simply replied, “It felt great!”
Josephson thought it was very important for him to win the NEC award, receiving medalist honors for both individual and team scores for the Blue Devils. “Few teammates won it last year,” said Josephson. He felt that he came off of his best summer golfing, qualifying for every tournament he played in.
Josephson’s strong point at the CCSU Fall Invitational at Wethersfield Country Club was having confidence. Winning the CCSU Fall Invitational is ranked as one of the biggest accomplishments of Josephson’s career. “It was the first time in a while,” said Josephson. “It’s hard to win, but once you do, it’s good insurance and the conference recognizes you for it.”
Having Blue Devil golfers as the three top finishers in the CCSU Fall Invitational with sub-par rounds, Josephson has a very confident outlook in his team this season and had a lot to say. He expressed how well his team did last season and that it takes a little while to realize it and let it sink in.
“We are more confident because there is more competition in the league this year, which makes us better,” said Josephson. “We have more golfers finishing in the top five than we did before.”
When asked if he thought his team had any weaknesses, Josephson responded without hesitation, “We really don’t have any weaknesses.” “I mean, we could work harder, I guess, but we all get along, which is key.”
Even though golf is an individual sport, Josephson has a unique philosophy about his team. “It’s an individual sport and we don’t work together out there, but at the end of the day, it’s a team effort and a team score that matters,” said Josephson.
Josephson and his team know how to have fun, as well as have a good attitude when they are traveling on the road. Living in a brick house on the corner of Roxbury and Carlton with four other CCSU golfers, Josephson jokes and has great unity with his team. “It’s the little things, like wearing the same uniform as your teammates,” said Josephson.
However, the players aren’t the only ones who joke around with each other. Coach Kevin Giancola joins in on the action and likes to share laughter of his own with the team. “Coach is one of us,” said Josephson. Having an accomplished instructor and who is both a CCSU alumni and player, leading CCSU to a third place finish at the 1985 NCAA Division II National Championship, it’s hard not to have faith in a guy like Coach Giancola.
“He has experience and knows how to win,” said Josephson. “He wins a lot and there are no substitutes to winning; he preaches that to the team.”
Having taken lessons from Coach Giancola, Josephson has grown close to his mentor and felt like a leader last year, not so much playing-wise, but as an individual. Coach Giancola is not only a coach to Josephson, but a friend as well. “He is one of us,” said Josephson. “It’s nice to have someone who can play a practice round with you and beat you. He does this because he wants to, not because it will pay bills.”
For Josephson, golfing in high school is a lot different than golfing in college. “Golfing in college is highly competitive and team unity is needed,” said Josephson. “You have new teammates, practice sessions with your coach, and sometimes small galleries watching while you play. Your team goes up to the course the day before the tournament to practice and prepare.”
Josephson may not be able to hit the backwards shot like Phil Mickelson, but he can drive the ball far. He won the longest drive contest at the New England Championship last season with a drive of 337 yards, having an average driving distance of about 300 yards.
As far as rituals go, Josephson has a couple that he follows religiously. “I always use the same divot tool because I work at a golf course during the summer, so I’m big into course management,” said Josephson.
When it comes time to mark his ball on the green, he doesn’t just use any old ball marker. “I will use a quarter with a specific year on it that I will aim to shoot for,” said Josephson. He also uses a 1994 quarter, reminding him of the year his sister was born. “Whenever I get frustrated on the course, I just look at that quarter and think of my sister,” said Josephson.
According to the 2009-2010 statistics, Josephson had an average of 76.7 and 2 top 10 finishes. Already this year, Josephson has an average of 73.25 and 2 out of the team’s 5 top 10 finishes. “It feels good to play good now and I just need to keep going,” said Josephson.
Having the best overall statistics so far this season for the Blue Devils, the junior from Berlin seems to be taking a leadership role on the team becoming a figure for CCSU golf. Josephson does not get overly excited nor does he pay too much attention to statistics. “This is what I’m supposed to be doing and with that, I want to lead this team,” said Josephson. “I take it seriously and I try to beat everyone out there.”
Josephson is riding high with confidence heading into the next tournament where he will be playing at his favorite golf course at the Yale Golf Club at Yale University in New Haven from Saturday, October 2 to Sunday, October 3. Both of his parents are CCSU alumni and his girlfriend, Elisabeth Beloin, plays on the CCSU women’s golf team.