Q&A with Jason Kokrak

Jason Kokrak arrived at Xavier University four years ago with an impressive high school playing resume that only got stronger during his time as a Musketeer.

 

He was a two-time Ohio state medalist (2002-03) at John F. Kennedy High School in Warren, Ohio, while also earning Division III All-State Team honors.  He was voted Ohio High School Golfer of the Year in 2003 before heading off to Xavier where he made an immediate impact, being named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year on the way to an outstanding career as a four-year letter-winner.

 

In college, among many honors, Jason earned multiple A-10 Player of the Year awards and was named to the PING Division I All-America Honorable Mention team last season as announced by the Golf Coaches Association of America. He finished his career as XU’s all-time leader with a 71.67 scoring average.

 

His summers have been equally impressive, especially the past couple when he won the Ohio State Amateur Championship (2006); was co-medalist in a U.S. Amateur qualifier advancing to match play and finished third in a U.S. Open qualifier earning the first alternate spot to the U.S. Open at Winged Foot.  That momentum carried over to this past summer, when he was one of 11 amateurs to qualify for the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club.  He finished third among amateur players at the Open and missed the cut by six strokes.  Jason followed that performance by earning the top seed in match play at the U.S. Amateur and advancing to the third round.

 

Jason’s playing eligibility is up at Xavier, where the 22-year-old senior is currently in his final semester working on completing his degree in Communications.  Future plans on the golf course include turning professional in the next couple of months.  Jason took time out between studying and working on his game to answer some questions from Ed Letsinger of Hometown Golf.

Q. You’ve had both a whirlwind and highly successful summer.  Was it beyond your wildest dreams or have you come to expect big things from yourself?

A. I have always set high goals for myself, so it was an absolute honor for me to take part in the events I did this summer.  I expect the best from myself so I am always striving forward to become better and better.

Q. How cool was it to play in a U.S. Open?

A. Words cannot even explain the rush I got from playing in the U.S. Open.  It was such a great confidence booster and a wonderful learning experience for me and the people around me.  I know now that I am able to play at that level of competition, and before I was not totally sure.

Q. How would you describe the overall experience?

A. The overall experience was a dream, I never would have expected to be treated the way I was, as well as how much I learned from others’ advice as well as how much I have learned about myself.

Q. How were you feeling on that first tee when you heard your name announced?

A. During the practice rounds I was not really all that nervous because of the support I had from friends and family all week which helped immensely with my nerves.  But when that announcer said my name on the first tee, my stomach flipped.  I don’t think I’ve ever been that nervous in my entire life.  But I swallowed what was in my mouth and tried my best to keep myself together, and I feel that I did a pretty good job.

Q. Did any of the professional players reach out to you; words of advice, encouragement, that type of thing? 

A. Yes, during each of my three practice rounds during U.S. Open week I got to play with a different professional every day.  The first round was with Tom Pernice Jr. who was very encouraging, and gave me a different way of looking at practice rounds.  The second, I had the honor of playing with Robert Allenby who was very fun to play with.  He gave me some very good advice on how it is easy to get caught up in the moment and not play golf.  Everyone I met during the week was very courteous.  The words of wisdom I received in just that week will help me with my game until I am unable to play.  But that won’t be any time soon.

Q. Were you disappointed that you missed the cut, or was it more of a “just happy to be there” attitude?

A. Well, obviously I was a little disappointed in not making the cut.  But the experience alone is an honor.  Many people told me how much of an honor it was for me to play in this event, but I tried to take the mentality that it was another golf tournament and I tried to play to the best of my ability, but that week I just was not at the top of my game.  I wanted to make the cut, but when I didn’t, I really didn’t let it bother me too much, because it was the U.S. Open.

Q. Is it hard to believe your college career is already over?

A. It is. I really enjoyed my college career at Xavier.  It being my last semester and still practicing with the team every once and a while, I still wish I could play and travel with them, because those are some of my best memories…going on the trips with my team.  I could say I wish I could go back, but it is time for me to move on to the next level.

Q. What are some of your best memories of playing college golf?

A. My best memories on the trips are all the stories I have from the team and the trips.

Q. Did you expect to have such a successful career at Xavier?

A. Yes, as I said earlier, I do expect the best from myself.  I had a team in high school similar to the team at Xavier, so I knew that if I did the same thing I did in high school, just at a different level, I would have a very successful career.

Q. Is there anything that you set out to do in college on the golf course that you did not accomplish?

A. I really wanted to make it to the NCAA finals.  Unfortunately our team was close for my first three years, and the last year I gave a pretty good run to make it as an individual coming in fourth at the Central Regional outside of Chicago.

Q. Word is you can pound the ball with the best of them.  What is your one big key to hitting it long?

A.  I think the biggest key is that many golfers get caught up on swing speed and how hard you can swing, but I think the biggest key is to have no lost energy.  Have all your moving parts come into contact with the ball without wasted energy.

Q. How far can you hit the ball off the tee?

A. Well, I am a long hitter, but I do not try to make that the key part in my game.  I like to think that I have a pretty good short game as well.  But if I had to guess how far I hit it, I would say I fly the ball around 300 to 310.

Q. What type of driver is in your bag right now?

A. I swing a 10.5 degree Cleveland Hi-bore XL.

Q. If your life depended on hitting one perfect shot, what is your club of choice?

A. Well, I have only had one hole-in-one, and that was with a pitching wedge.  But I would have to say my favorite club in the bag is my 60 degree wedge.

Q. You mentioned that you will likely be turning pro in the near future.  Has that always been part of the bigger plan?

A. Yes, I got started playing golf at a very young age, and I was pretty good, but every year, I tried to get a couple of strokes better each year, and so far so good.  But I am always trying to get better, working on all parts of my game.

Q. At what point did you think to yourself, “I have the ability to play professionally?”

A. I’m not really sure if there was a definitive point in my life where I thought that, but over the years of competition, I have been able to compete with the best at every level, and I want to keep going until I reach the top.

Q. What do you like to do when you are not playing golf?

A. I love all sports, I like to play basketball, baseball, everything.  But I do like to relax and take a breather from golf.  Players can become burnt out from golf, and a break does do most people well.

Q. Your major in college is communications.  What would you like to do with that degree some day?

A. My life right now is golf, I love golf.  I have not really put to much thought into what I would do with my major, so for right now golf is my top priority.

Q. I assume at some point the PGA Tour will be on your radar.  Before you put that degree to work, I’m guessing you’d like to spend a few years teeing it up with the big boys for a living.  Thoughts?

A. Every since I started to get serious about golf, the PGA Tour has been in the back of my mind.  I have always looked up to those guys, and idolized people like Arnold and Jack, and now everyone wants to be Tiger Woods.  But I like to look at him as competition.  No one can really be anyone else, but you can compete and strive to be the best, and Tiger Woods is the best right now.  In 10 years, maybe shorter, there will be another person up at the top.  Maybe not being a record breaker, like Tiger and few others, but they are at the top at that moment in time. So right now, it is getting to that point in time where I do need to step it up, and start playing with the big boys.