STUDENT SPOTLIGHT – KOSEI IMAI

By Matt Smith

I want to introduce two current students of mine that are doing great things in 2025. Kosei and Kengo Imai and I have been working together now for two years. They are the hardest working junior golfers I have ever met.

Kengo is 12 years old and competes nationally on the junior golf circuit. He was player of the year on the local U.S. Kids Golf Tour in Columbus, Ohio. He has shot three different rounds of 66 this spring and has taken his game to an elite level. His younger brother Kosei is 9 years old and he also competes on the U.S. Kids Tour locally and nationally. This spring, Kosei made the finals of Drive, Chip and Putt at Augusta National Golf Club. The local NBC television channel did an interview on us right before the Masters. He asked me to be his caddie and we finished 3rd place in his division on Golf Channel! What an exciting day for Ko and myself.

That Thursday, I was also at the Masters and had the pleasure of watching Jack Nicklaus hit the inaugural tee shot. Jack was a legend where I grew up in Columbus. I won his golf scholarship in 1994 and he presented it to me at The Memorial Tournament! What an emotional, awesome week for myself to see my life come full-circle!

I currently work with both of them about twice a month all year round in Ohio. We may switch between my academy indoors and outside playing lessons at Cumberland Trail Golf Club. I am blessed to be able to teach such great young men!