Cowgirls In The Profession - Part 2 - Oklahoma State University Athletics

Throughout the year, Oklahoma State women's golf will be featuring alumni and their numerous success stories off the golf course after they've left Stillwater and Oklahoma State in this new series titled, "Cowgirls In the Profession." Stay tuned during the upcoming year as the Cowgirls help showcase some of the best and brightest to have played at Karsten Creek and what profession they're finding success in now.

The second edition shines a light on Nikki Gatch.

After four years at Oklahoma State as a student and member of Cowgirl golf team, Nikki Gatch has continued to find success in the golf world.

As the daughter of PGA veteran William "Buzz" Gill, Gatch grew up in the golf world and held her first club at the age 5. Even with that, she didn't start playing seriously until several years later.

"[I] started sort of playing at 10, you know, got into the game," Gatch said. "Really enjoyed it, really loved it, got into junior golf, and started playing junior golf tournaments. [I] played in high school, you know, that led to being recruited for college, obviously ended up playing at OSU."

Gatch picked up golf in Oklahoma at a young age, and after her family moved to California, she had the opportunity to develop her skills at top-tier courses. In high school, Gatch played alongside boys because her high school did not have a girls' team.

She credits playing on the boys' team for making her a better golfer.

Eventually it became time to start thinking about college and where she might go. Originally from the state, Oklahoma State had long been on Gatch's radar. And, as soon as she stepped on campus for a recruiting visit, she knew OSU was where she wanted to be.

"I was looking at some California schools to stay close to home," She said. "As soon as I took my trip to OSU, I came home and told my parents, that's where I'm going, I don't want to visit any other schools. I really liked all the girls that were on the team, even though most of them are going to be graduating from when I was coming in. And then ultimately, probably the biggest factor was our coach, Ann Pitts. And I really, just, I just love her and admire her and respect her and she was someone I definitely wanted to play for."

During her time in collegiate golf, Gatch was a key member of the 1992 and 1994 Big 8 Conference Championship and NCAA Women's Golf Championship qualifying teams for the Cowgirls. Being a part of a team and university that had such a legacy of success only pushed her to be better every day.

"I mean, really each team, I think really wants to make sure that they uphold the great traditions of Oklahoma State golf," she said. "Whether that's men's or women's, and remembering all those that came before us and, and setting a good path for those that would come after us. I think it's, I guess really just to say it was it was very motivating."

After graduation, Gatch briefly considered a professional career in the LPGA, but quickly realized playing on the pro tour wasn't in the cards. She pivoted to the business side of the sport and soon found an opportunity to work for the Southern California Professional Golf Association.

"For me, I gravitated to the business side of the game and working in the industry," Gatch said. "I started out as a traditional golf pro at a golf course, running tournaments [and] giving lessons. And then I had an opportunity to work for the Southern California PGA and running a junior golf program and the junior golf program I grew up playing in. So, it was kind of a full circuit, full circle opportunity that I loved. Right? It was it was me being able to give back and now run the program that gave me so many great opportunities and memories. And I was able to do that for other junior golfers, which was really fulfilling."

Her passion for golf led to her eventual election as the first woman president of the Southern California Golf Association. Before that, she held executive positions with the Southern California PGA and the PGA of America and serving as the first female board member of the body that oversees amateur golf throughout Southern California.

Gatch credits her time at Oklahoma State as a key to her continued success after leaving Stillwater.

"I think being a student-athlete gives you so many different and unique opportunities," She said. "Beyond just being a student, you're part of the team, you learn how to work with others, you learn how to respect others you meet, you meet people from all different walks of life and background. Obviously, being a student-athlete, you have to be very dedicated and structured, manage your time properly, you know, all of those things, all of those attributes that will help you in life, no matter what you end up doing."

Even after achieving such high levels of success post-graduation, Gatch still looks back and remembers her time on the Cowgirl golf team fondly, along with the lessons it taught her.

"The greatest time of my life was spent at OSU. [It] really, really helped me grow up and become a good person," she said. "There's so many people involved and that were part of that process. Certainly, my coach and my teammates but other people in Stillwater and were part of the school that you just you felt the support and that gave you the confidence and the motivation to just be as good as you could be at whatever you were going to end up doing in life. So, I really value my time there and I just love it."

Oklahoma State University Athletics

Cowgirls In The Profession - Part 2

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