The Day's All-Area Golfer of the Year: NFA's Noah Straub

July 04, 2017 12:00 am • Last Updated: July 05, 2017 7:33 pm

By Gavin Keefe
Day Sports Writer

Norwich Free Academy senior Noah Straub was named The Day's 2017 All-Area Golfer of the Year. Straub shot a 74 to tie for second in the ECC championship and fired a 76 to tie for ninth at the Division I state tournament. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)
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Noah Straub's summer to do list rarely changes.

Play golf.

Practice golf.

Think about ways to improve his golf game.

That basically sums up his top priorities.

Straub is determined and driven to achieve his golf goals, which include becoming a professional one day.

"I just want to beat everybody," Straub said. "I just want to be the best."

Straub had his share of victories and impressive rounds during his senior season at Norwich Free Academy. He was selected as The Day's 2017 All-Area Golfer of the Year.

He was the top player for the Wildcats, who won the Eastern Connecticut Conference Division I title and snapped Killingly's 82-match unbeaten streak. He owned the lowest differential in the conference (1.5) and tied for second with a 74 at the ECC championship at Shennecossett Golf Course in Groton. He also tied for ninth at the Division I state tournament, firing a 4-over 76 at Fairview Farms in Harwinton.

"I thought it was a consistent season," said Straub, whose father Brian introduced him to the sport. "Not too many high numbers. I stayed within myself all season and performed pretty well at the ECC championship."

Straub continues to practice his craft and block out any distractions. On just about any summer day, you'll find him at the golf course.

"I think the difference between last year and this year is the amount of time he put in in the offseason," NFA coach Bill Howard said. "The kid eats, breathes, sleeps, you name it, golf. He's always at the golf course and he's always practicing. He works at a driving range so he's always hitting balls.

"... He's probably as dedicated to the game as any kid I've coached. This is what he wants to do. He just loves the game of golf and he just works really hard at it. And he has a lot of confidence because of that."

Straub, who spent his freshman year at The Williams School before moving on to NFA, gradually improved each season during his high school career.

As a sophomore, he decided that he wanted to be the best player on the team and worked his way toward that destination. Then, as a junior, he qualified for the Division I state tournament for the first time and fired an 80.

This past season, he credited an improvement in his swing to time spent over the winter with teaching pro Jim Jones at Lake of Isles in North Stonington. He's spent about the last six years there polishing his skills.

Mentally, he also experienced a growth spurt. He learned to keep his cool and quickly move on from a bad shot.

Take the ECC championship.

On the first hole of the match, Straub's second shot sailed over the green. But the mistake didn't derail him. He recovered nicely and played well from there.

"There was some maturity that developed over the last past couple of years," Howard said. "Maybe last year he may hold onto a bad shot here or there. He didn't really do that this year. The best compliment I can give the kid is that he knows how to grind. ... This kid grinds."

Straub added: "I don't really get mad that much. I know that getting your heart rate up or getting angry only leads to more bad shots. I just try to keep calm on the course all the time."

His summer tournament schedule is a busy one.

Last week, he played in the Connecticut Section Junior PGA Championship at The Course at Yale in New Haven. He shot a two-round total of 9-over 149 (76-73) to tie for 14th. At one point, he stood at 2-under during one round but went 5-over on the last five holes.

Any disappointments or setbacks only serve as motivation for Straub.

"I just feel like there's never a point where you master the game," Straub said. "There's always room for improvement. I get frustrated all the time. You just wake up the next day and keep going."

Straub is preparing for his future.

He'll attend Ottawa University in Phoenix next fall where he'll play on the golf team.

"It's something that you've got to do to get your game to the next level," Straub said.

He plans to major in exercise science with an eye on becoming a personal trainer. But he has another profession in mind.

"I'm trying to go pro, that's the goal in the end," Straub said.

g.keefe@theday.com

When he's not playing a match, NFA's Noah Straub - who will continue his career next year at Ottawa University in Phoenix - can often be found at the practice range at Lake of Isles in North Stonington. "I think the difference between last year and this year is the amount of time he put in in the offseason," NFA coach Bill Howard said. "The kid eats, breathes, sleeps, you name it, golf. He's always at the golf course and he's always practicing. He works at a driving range so he's always hitting balls." (Photo courtesy of Noah Straub)