Jacob Kang has quickly emerged as one of the top young golfers in the West Coast Conference (WCC). The Mill Creek, Wash., native and freshman recently placed third overall at the WCC Championships, shooting six-under par over three rounds and finishing ahead of the nation’s No. 7-ranked golfer from Pepperdine University. Kang posted a career-low round of four-under par, 67, during the second round and finished with a combined score of 210, his best finish of the season.  

Before arriving at Seattle University, Kang built an impressive resume at the high school level. He was a two-time 4A WESCO champion, won the 2024 Washington Junior Golf Association Western Open title and represented Washington at the 2024 Junior America’s Cup. In his first collegiate season, Kang competed in 10 tournaments for the Redhawks and earned WCC All-Conference Honorable Mention honors while posting a 73.13 stroke average. 

Off the course, Kang is a business and economics major. As he adjusts to college life and continues developing his game, Kang has quickly become one of Seattle U’s promising young athletes. 

The following is an excerpt from a May 7 interview. Initials indicate the speaker.

MD: How did you get into golf?

JK: My dad was the person who got me started in golf. I started when I was 3 years old, just with plastic clubs, but then just smashing balls all the way up to middle school. That is when I wanted to actually start playing golf competitively. I started playing tournaments and traveling around the world to compete. 

MD: What made you decide to continue golf into college? 

JK: During high school, I knew I wanted to play professionally and that I wanted to do golf in the future. Golf in college was just another step towards my goal. 

MD: What keeps you motivated when playing golf? 

JK: I would say the competitiveness. I love competition and competing against everyone. When I win, it feels like a reward. 

MD: Who has had the biggest impact on your golf career? 

JK: My dad and my swing coach. They are the ones who taught me about discipline and how to approach the game. My dad has been there for me throughout my entire golf career. 

MD: Going into the WCC championships, what expectations did you have for yourself? 

JK: Coming into the tournament, I didn’t want to put too [many] expectations on myself because I didn’t want to have the stress. But I came into it with a lot of confidence, knowing that if I prepare myself for this, then I could get out there and play some good golf. I try to keep myself in a positive headspace. 

MD: You finished ahead of one of the top-ranked golfers in the country. How did that moment impact you? 

JK: It definitely changed my confidence. I didn’t know it happened until my teammates told me, and I was pretty shocked. It felt like another step forward to playing better golf. Having better results makes me want to play better and prepare for other tournaments in the future. 

MD: Was there a specific shot or round during the tournament that stood out to you?

JK: During the last round, on hole six, I believe it was 106 yards out of the left rough, and I used a lob wedge, and it bounced twice onto the green, went to the hole for an eagle, so it was pretty shocking. Everybody started screaming. 

MD: Why did you choose Seattle U? What has your first year been like so far? 

JK: I chose Seattle U because of my current teammate who is currently a second-year. I pretty much grew up with him. We were at the same country club practicing together and playing tournaments together and I found out that SU has a great golf program. It is near home and has a good team, so I thought it was the place for me.

MD: What do you enjoy doing when you’re not golfing? 

JK: I love to spend time with my family and hang out with friends. Outside of golf, I like not having to think about golf. I go out shopping, watch movies and play cards. 

MD: How do you balance academics with athletics? 

JK: During high school, I missed a lot of class and that taught me how to make sure I have time management. If there is free time, I should be using that time to study or do homework. 

MD: What does success mean to you beyond rankings or trophies? 

JK: Success to me means building character. This game has pretty much built my life and how I approach everything. 

MD: Has golf taught you anything about yourself as a person?

JK: Growing up, I would say I was more of an introvert. I’m kind of a quiet person, but golf taught me that I should put myself out there more. It has taught me to be disciplined. 

MD: What goals do you have for the rest of your college career?

JK: One goal is to win a tournament, whether it is an invitation or conference.