The National Golf Coaches Association named Kimbra Kosak (Jr., Grand Rapids, Minn.) as the 2008 Division III recipient of the Kim Moore Spirit Award at the recent NGCA Division III Awards Banquet. Kosak, who is only the third Division III athlete to earn the award, was also named the Division III Freshman of the Year in 2006 by the NGCA and has finished in the top six at the last two NCAA Championships.
This award is dedicated to Kim Moore, who played golf for the University of Indianapolis (1999-2003). Kim was an inspiration to all as she persevered through many physical challenges while playing collegiate golf. Her positive outlook and dedication toward the game was only out done by her sense of humor and passion for the game.
The purpose of the award is to recognize and honor a student-athlete who exemplifies a great spirit toward the game of golf, a positive attitude on and off the golf course, a role model for her team and mental toughness in facing challenges.
At age 5, Kimbra had a golf club in her hand as she started to tag along to the golf course with her dad, Jim, who encouraged the entire family to get involved with the sport. By the time Kimbra reached sixth grade, her father and her older sister were always playing golf together. Desiring to spend as much time with him and her sister, Kimbra was determined to improve and work hard on her game to show him her desire.
On January 18, 2003, Jim Kosak was killed in a plane crash as he was traveling to see her younger brother play hockey and then to see Kimbra play basketball. “Since then, Kimbra has taken into everything she does that sense of commitment to activities and family and drive for excellence that her father taught her,” according to head coach Scott Moe.
Kosak received the award after a successful season in which she was the model of consistency. She did not finish lower than 11th place in 10 tournaments over the course of the 2007-08 season. Her best finishes of the season came when she finished third at the Riverport Inn Classic and tied for third place at the Wartburg Fall Invitational.
“Kimbra’s dedication to excellence has been very contagious. She is an outstanding role model for our team and our college. Her work ethic is like none other,” said Moe.
Kosak, an honor student majoring in elementary education, is the daughter of the late Jim Kosak and Mary Kosak of Grand Rapids and a 2005 graduate of Grand Rapids High School.
The National Golf Coaches Association, founded in 1983, is a non-profit organization representing women’s collegiate golf coaches. The NGCA was formed to encourage the playing of college golf for women in correlation with a general objective of education and in accordance with the highest tradition of intercollegiate competition. Today, the NGCA represents over 400 coaches throughout the U.S. and is dedicated to educating, promoting and recognizing both its members and the student-athletes they represent.