June 30—Sebby DeCosta grew up playing baseball but eventually felt a tug to go in another direction.
“Last year and two years ago, I always felt like when I was playing baseball that I’d rather be on the golf course,” DeCosta said. “This year, I decided to give it a try. And it doesn’t look like I’m going back.”
It worked out pretty well for DeCosta, whose contribution to East Lyme’s success and his personal accomplishments earned him honors as The Day’s 2023 All-Area Boys’ Golfer of the Year.
DeCosta made quite an impact in his debut season as a sophomore. He was named to the All-Eastern Connecticut Conference Division I first team and earned scholar-athlete honors.
He was a good teammate, as well.
“He’s one of those guys, you just love to have him on the team,” East Lyme coach Rudy Bagos said. “He got along well with everybody. He tries to help everybody with their game.
“He’s a smart kid. There are times on the bus where we’re going to an away match and he’s doing homework.”
DeCosta comes from a golfing family. His father RJ plays, as does his grandfather Barry Sheckley.
His grandfather has been there just about every step along the way.
Starting around the age of 6, DeCosta started playing with his grandfather. They’d head out to Cedar Ridge, a par 3 golf course in East Lyme.
“I’ve always loved going with my grandfather,” DeCosta said. “He’s the one that really got me into golf.”
There was an adjustment period for DeCosta in his first season playing competitive golf this spring.
His first few high school matches were a bit nerve-racking at the start.
“I would always get butterflies going into them,” DeCosta said. When I would get into it, I would settle down and start to get into a rhythm.”
DeCosta experienced some typical ups and downs. He shot even-par against Waterford and fired a 38 against Old Lyme but also had some tough rounds in the nine-hole matches.
“It was probably the most golf that he’s ever played,” Bagos said. “We were playing golf four to five days a week. He was bound to hit a little lull at some point.”
DeCosta steadily improved, finding a nice groove during the tournament season. His reliable short game carried him.
At the Fishers Island Invitational in mid-May, DeCosta turned in a strong performance, shooting a 79 on a difficult course while finishing in the top five.
In the ECC championship on June 1 at Quinnatisset Country Club in Thompson, DeCosta remained poised under pressure, staying in contention right until the final few holes before finishing in a tie for second place with a 75.
“I just played my game and whatever happened in the end, happened,” DeCosta said. “That’s really what I focused on going through the tournament.”
DeCosta capped the season by finishing with an 81 at the CIAC Division I state tournament at Tallwood Country Club in Hebron on June 5.
“All the 18-hole tournaments, he played really well,” Bagos said.
DeCosta has a bright future.
He has a cool demeanor on the course, allowing him to quickly put bad shots behind him.
He’ll continue to benefit from having close friends Tyler Moore and Jack Bucko on the team. They push each other to improve.
Next season, he’ll have some experience on his side and will be familiar with the courses.
The Vikings will be returning all their golfers from a team that won the ECC Division I regular-season title, placed second in the ECC championship and eighth in the state tournament.
DeCosta has a successful season to build on. He’ll play some tournaments on the Connecticut PGA Junior Tour this summer and take advantage of his new membership at Black Hall Club in Old Lyme.
“I definitely exceeded my expectations, which is good,” DeCosta said. “But I feel like there’s always something to improve on. … This year definitely showed me what I’m capable of and I feel like that’s a really good baseline to go off of for the next two years, where I can work harder and just try to see what I’m capable of.”
The Day’s 2023 All-Area Boys’ Golf Team
Player of the Year — Sebby DeCosta (East Lyme)
Kieran Boscoe (Wheeler)
Jack Bucko (East Lyme)
Josh Lavender (Norwich Tech)
Tyler Moore (East Lyme)
Brandon Tavares (Stonington)