Kyle Demshki has shown he is a true force to be reckoned with. Demshki, a Stern senior, has earned two first-place tournament wins and a pair of UAA Player of the Week honors.
Demshki’s knowledge of the game influenced Todd Kolean, the head coach of the NYU men’s and women’s golf teams, in his decision to make Demshki a team captain.
“[Demshki] is an intelligent player who just knows how to consistently play the game with steadiness,” Kolean said.
After growing up in Calabasas, Calif., Demshki’s family immersed him in a sports-oriented atmosphere. With a mother who played tennis, a father who played water polo and a sister who played softball, Demshki claimed golf as his own.
“I think I was 2 or 3 [years old] when my dad put a club in my hand, and I guess that’s when my golfing career really started,” Demshki said.
For Demshki, golfing gradually evolved from a childhood hobby into a mature, challenging commitment.
“Golf is such a challenging sport because it is not as physically draining as it is mentally,” Demshki said. “You are playing against yourself the entire time.”
In his first year at NYU, Demshki struggled in the fall season to solidify a starting position. During the next spring season, however, things turned around for the eager freshman, as Demshki claimed his first collegiate tournament win at the McDaniel’s Cup in Pennsylvania.
“He has refined his skills and his game has certainly improved since freshman year,” Kolean said.
But for Kolean, it was more than just Demshki’s skills that made him a clear leader on the course.
“Like his golf game, Kyle is just a steady, smart and very personable human being, ” Kolean said. “His leadership combined with his kindness is what makes him such a well-rounded captain.”
“He is a real go-getter when we are golfing, but he is also the most giving person I’ve ever met,” CAS junior and teammate Matt Gjonaj said.
Speaking to what guided him in balancing his life on and off the golf course, Demshki said he looked up to idols such as professional golfer Tiger Woods and John Wooden, the former basketball coach for the University of California, Los Angeles.
“I look up to Tiger because he shows how a focused mindset is important to winning,” Demshki said. “I also look up to Wooden because he emphasized more of the character of the athlete and how things do matter more than just winning.”
As Demshki looks ahead to his future after graduating from Stern with a degree in finance, he hopes to secure a corporate position in either New York, Los Angeles or San Francisco — all while keeping a bag of golf clubs nearby.
A version of this article appeared in the Thursday, Oct. 10 print edition. Michelle Tran is a contributing writer. Email her at [email protected].
