Photo by: Andrew Fielding

After touching his first golf club at the age of 4, Espen Kofstad never looked back. Recently, Kofstad, 22, was awarded as Norway’s best amateur golfer.

Kofstad, a marketing major and economics minor, is one of two seniors on DU’s NCAA Division I golf team.

He is the only international student on the team. And plans on playing golf after graduating.

The Arets Talent award is given to a male or female athlete that demonstrates excellent tournament results, great exercise diligence and other positive aspects.

“Oh it was nice, I didn’t expect it at all because it’s usually a thing they give to junior players,” said Kofstad of winning the award. “It feels great.”

The Norwegian Golf Federation said Espen has established himself as one of the most exciting players in Norwegian golf.

“Espen is very sincere, focused and committed to be the best he can,” DU head coach Eric Hoos said. “He is one of the hardest workers that I’ve ever coached.”

In addition to being honored as the best golfer in Norway, Kofstad received a check for around $1,200 to be used for golf related purchases.

“If I wanted to go practice somewhere, whatever the bill was they would pay it up to that limit,” said Kofstad.

Kofstad began playing golf after visiting his aunt and uncle’s summerhouse. In Norway, there are not high school sports like in the U.S. So instead, Kofstad played in junior and national tournaments on a club golf team.

His best and worst memories both come from playing for Norway in the World Boys Championship in 2006. The championship took place in Japan and going into the last day Norway was leading the other 13 countries by five or six shots.

“The last day I catch on fire on the last couple holes and play really well, but then on the final hole I took a nine. We won by one,” Kofstad said. “I play really well, like four under par and then make a quick triple boogie and we win by one. Can you imagine how that felt?”

He says he can laugh about it now, but it is still his worst memory. However, winning the championship is his best memory.

Kofstad’s recruitment came by chance. A DU coach was there to observe someone else but zeroed in on Kofstad. The chance part was that Kofstad was not originally picked to play on a team.

“I got called the day before we left and they said they needed me,” he said. “One guy got hit by a golf club in his ankle so he was out and the other one got back pain so they got me in there.”

Golf remains in his future.

“I will play golf. I don’t know where. I’m working on everything, like a resume for sponsors,” Kofstad said. “I am not aiming to play just on a satellite tour I want to play up there but I still have a lot I have to improve.”

He believes coming to DU to play golf for four years has already helped him improve immensely. Kofstad’s freshman year he tied for 16th place in the Sun Belt Conference Championship and last season he won the tournament. He has a minus four handicap.

“I am so much better now than when I came here. All credit to the coaches,” said Kofstad.

His coach agrees.

“When Espen started as a freshman he was an average college golfer, now he’s one of the best in the country,” head coach Hoos said. “He will be sorely missed next season.”

But as for this season, Kofstad is motivated as ever. During fall, he finished third in two tournaments and second in one.

“This fall I was starting to get results from all the practice,” he said. “It’s what motivates me, to see if I can play with almost anyone in college right now and beat them.”

 

Countries where Kofstad has golfed

• Australia
• England
• Greece
• Ireland
• Japan
• Nordic countries
• Portugal
• Scotland
• South Africa
• Spain
• Zimbabwe

 

Kofstad’s stats

• First place finish– Shot an overall 208, eight-under par, to place first int he SBC tournament.
• Second in scoring– Finished second on the team with a 71.91 scoring average.