By Alan Babbitt
Hope College golfer Josh Gibson made a nice addition to his bag last spring – an individual NCAA Div. III Championship.
He then added conference medalist honors and a record-setting tournament round of 61 in the fall to a growing list of accomplishments.
There is a common thread between these impressive performances by the 20-year-old graduate of Grandville High School, head coach Scott Lokers says – it is Gibson embracing success in those pressure-packed moments on the course.
“When shooting a round like 61, a lot of players would start overthinking, lose focus and pull back,” Lokers said. “Josh, after making a few birdies is like, ‘Let’s make some more birdies.’”
The past golfing year has been a memorable one for Gibson.
In May, he won Hope College’s first NCAA golf title by winning a one-hole playoff with a par-4 on the extra hole at Mission Inn Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida. He finished the four-day tournament at 1-under-par and received an Arnold Palmer trophy for his victory. He also helped the Flying Dutchmen to a program-best sixth-place team finish.
In September, Gibson opened the 36-hole, two-day Irish Hills Invitational hosted by Adrian College with a school-record, 11-under-par 61 at Grande Golf Club in Jackson. He had 10 birdies, six pars and one eagle.
In October, Gibson repeated as Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association season medalist by averaging a school-record 71.6 strokes over 90 holes and play at five courses.
Gibson said he has been determined to take everything in stride.
“I just see it as the results for all the hard work I’ve put in. It definitely is fun,” Gibson said. “Part of his setting it as a new standard for myself. I may never shoot a 61 ever again. If I set who I am in some of those achievements, I may end up disappointed in myself.”
An electrical engineering student at Hope College, Gibson likes to study how things work.
Last summer, Gibson read several sports psychology books to help improve his mental approach to golf.
“The consensus of every single sports psychologist is not to focus on results. It’s staying in the moment and focus on the shot at hand,” Gibson said. “If you get caught up thinking about a 61, that would start to bring in nerves.”
Gibson returns to competition in April when Hope resumes play following the weather-mandated break from golf in Michigan.
The Flying Dutchmen have qualified for the MIAA’s NCAA Division III Championship qualifier and will host at their course at Wuskowhan Players Club in West Olive the first of three 18-hole rounds. Regular-season champion Calvin College will hold the final two rounds at Watermark Country Club in Grand Rapids. The top cumulative score will advance to the May NCAA championships in Greensboro, N.C.
“I’ve enjoyed my time off. It’s a good break and allows me to do some other things,” Gibson said. “Going to nationals as a team is the first, and by far, the most important thing. We want to get back there and be in the mix again. The individual nationals is cool and everything, but I look way more at the team tournament.”
Lokers isn’t surprised to see Gibson focused on his teammates. He has watched Gibson handle all the extra attention he’s received since winning the individual national championship without the success changing either him or his game.
“I see a real commitment to our team. That has not changed,” Lokers said. “He works really hard – at everything. He loves to practice. That’s not a chore for him. He’s stepped up as a leader, as a captain for our team.
“He knows who he is. The stability and love provided by his family, and his faith, those have impacted him. They really matter. I think he genuinely enjoys people and life. That’s a pretty good combination. His priorities are in the right place.”
