Often in individual sports like golf or tennis, you hear stories of specialization at a young age, athletes being bred for success solely in that sport from youth. With Kevin O'Connell this certainly wasn't the case.
"In high school, I played golf, basketball and lacrosse, and then I just kind of realized that golf was what I was best at of those three sports," O'Connell said.
Despite his diverse athletic background, or perhaps because of it, O'Connell quickly developed many of the intangibles necessary to succeed as a golfer.
O'Connell is the co-captain for the Cavaliers' golf team along with senior Jeremy Luce. O'Connell has led through action on the course, pacing the Cavaliers with a seven-over 223 at the General Jim Hackler Invitational on March 10. Most importantly, as a captain he has provided important guidance for a young team that features four freshman and five sophomores on a 12 man roster.
"Golf's such an individual sport, I mean it's definitely a team, but you're only a team after the round when you put all the scores together," O'Connell said. "So as a captain, it's more just my experience, helping the younger kids with what mentally should be going through their head during the round. Especially as the heat gets on towards the end of the round, what you should be thinking if you're four-under par or seven-over."
His poise and demeanor are particularly noticeable on the course according to head coach Mike Moraghan.
"He carries himself with a maturity level well beyond that of a typical college player," Moraghan said. "He is very stable emotionally on the course, and has much more of a tour player's mentality."
Moraghan compared O'Connell's course mindset with that of former Virginia standout James Driscoll, now a member of the Nationwide Tour. Driscoll was the runner-up to Jeff Quinney in the U.S. Amateur Championship in 2000.
"They both share an ability to focus and maintain an even keel during a round," Moraghan said.
As in high school, O'Connell doesn't limit himself solely to golf. He enjoys music and worked with Dave Matthews' manager and Starr Hill two summers ago.
"Through that I got affiliated with the local Charlottesville music scene, which was a lot of fun," O'Connell said.
O'Connell also enjoys boating and fishing, and this naturally leads to a love of cooking -- especially grilling.
"I like tuna -- I like to cook fish a lot," O'Connell said.
With one of golf's most exciting tournaments, the Masters, starting today, it seemed only appropriate to get O'Connell to handicap the field.
"Well David Toms has been hurt, so I don't think he's got a shot," O'Connell said. "I like Padraig Harrington a lot, he's been pretty hot recently."
In another tournament this weekend, O'Connell and the rest of the golf team will head to Raleigh for The Intercollegiate, a tournament which will be the team's final tune-up before the ACC Championships in New London, N.C. on April 16-18.
"A lot of ACC schools are going to be there this weekend, and obviously the ACC has been a strong conference, but these three weeks are real important to see if we make the NCAA regionals," O'Connell said.
Surely O'Connell's steady play along with the contributions of young players will play a major part in Virginia's chances to continue advancing through postseason play.
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