Oklahoma State University Athletics
’Tis The Season To Be Thankful For Cowboys Like Zack Robinson
December 22, 2021 | Cowboy Golf
By Ryan Cameron
Zack Robinson is the epitome of Cowboy Golf.
For a storied program which prides itself on excellence in all facets, he is a shining example of the all-around excellence OSU golf exemplifies.
On the course, Robinson was an All-American, earning honorable mention status in 2003 and third-team honors two years later. He capped his career by helping OSU capture the NCAA team title in 2006.
The Fort Worth native was equally impressive in the classroom, earning Academic All-Big 12 honors four times and Academic All-America status twice.
Robinson capped his career as the 2006 recipient of the prestigious Byron Nelson Award, which is presented to somebody taking into consideration equal parts their entire collegiate academic career, entire collegiate golf career and his character and integrity while in college. The first-ever Cowboy to win the award, the distinction was special to Robinson for multiple reasons.
"I was really humbled to win the award. Mr. Nelson has done some great things for the game. He is probably on the Mt. Rushmore of golf. There were also a lot of Fort Worth ties that were neat for me," Robinson said.
Additionally, he wanted to further prove the Cowboy program excelled beyond its results on the course.
"I wanted them to see that really good academics could happen at OSU. If anything it was adding to the list of things that had happened at OSU."
Growing up in Texas, Robinson was well aware of the OSU program and did not hesitate when the opportunity to become a Cowboy presented itself.
"I got really lucky to end up in Stillwater, probably more than I deserved at the time. I had some success, but I wouldn't say that I was highly recruited. I heard the stories about OSU: the private airplane, the trips out to Phoenix and PING and all sorts of cool stuff that seemed like a dreamland to me," Robinson said.
When Coach Holder first contacted Robinson, the magnitude of the moment was not lost on him.
"It was a big deal for me because I knew OSU was one of the best teams every year. I felt like if I was going to go play college golf, what more could I ask for than to play with the best every day. I saw it as a great opportunity to come to the best program in the country and see how good I could be."
Ultimately, Robinson did find his way to Stillwater and had a solid start to his collegiate career, posting four top 20s during the spring of 2003. He capped his season with a 19th-place showing at the NCAA Championship on his home course, Karsten Creek. However, the much-coveted team title eluded Robinson and Co. as the Cowboys finished second in their own backyard. Despite the disappointment, Robinson was reminded why the program is unrivaled in many aspects.
"I don't think everybody realizes how the Stillwater community embraces golf and college golf when they come to town. I am always amazed at the crowds. We had such an incredible turnout from the Stillwater community. It was unlike anything I had played in up until that time," Robinson said.
As a junior, Robinson enjoyed another productive campaign with six consecutive top-10 showings during the spring on his way to All-America honors. However, the national championship still eluded him.
With a degree in political science already in hand, Robinson embarked on his final campaign with one thing in mind — an NCAA title.
"I worked really hard and wanted us to win and I was the only guy on that team that had come so close in 2003 and knew how bad it tastes to get close and not win," Robinson said.
"When you walk those halls at Karsten Creek or Gallagher-Iba, you see the history of the athletic programs and you see and feel the history of OSU golf. I felt we had this obligation to do something of merit and of worth while we were there. We wanted to write our own history, so we were adding to that history for the next guys."
And add to that history they did.
After posting consecutive runner-up finishes at The Maxwell and the NCAA Central Regional to help the Cowboys to team titles in their two events leading up to the national championship, Robinson's game was trending in the right direction for his final event as a Cowboy.
When the dust had settled, the Cowboys found themselves three shots clear of the field in Sunriver, Ore., and in possession of the school's 10th NCAA crown. Robinson looks back on that 2006 title run with fond memories especially when it comes to the time spent with teammates Trent and Tyler Leon, Pablo Martin and Jonathan Moore.
"What was cool about Sunriver is we all had a cabin where the whole team stayed together. At that time, our chemistry was really strong. I have said this in the past, but I think chemistry can kind of be the secret weapon on a golf team. When you are playing well and everyone is cheering for each other and you are genuinely happy when the other guy plays well. We fed off that," Robinson explained.
With that victory came the satisfaction of knowing he and his team had secured their place in history and upheld the program's lofty standards set before them and remain in place to this day.
"It meant a lot to all of us who were on that team because we had written history for ourselves and it ultimately helps the next guys as OSU continues to build on that as a program," Robinson said.
"That is one of the coolest things about OSU and its golf program is the longevity. The success over the years that has allowed one team after another to really feel like they are a part of something significant they want to add to it."
Robinson earned his master's in business administration and to nobody's surprise has gone on to a highly successful career in finance as an investment banker after bypassing the chance to play professionally.
"I played with two national players of the year so I saw the best players every day. I made a decision for me, my self assessment was I like academics, I did well and I had some opportunities in the finance world and I wanted to pursue those," Robinson said.
"I haven't ever played a day of pro golf in my life and I have zero regrets about it."
Nevertheless, Robinson's time with the program has proven beneficial on several different levels.
"OSU has done a lot for me. The relationships I have made along the way that have opened up a door or allowed me to expand my horizons in some way. The experience I had on the golf team that reiterated the value of hard work, trying to do things the right way," Robinson said.
"I have tried to use a lot of that to overcome adversity, the world is full of adversity and life is full of adversity."
Adversity reared its ugly head in December of 2019 when Robinson was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. The diagnosis came as a shock to somebody who was a picture of health with virtually no symptoms.
Robinson learned the thing about adversity is nobody has to go through it alone. Especially when you are part of the OSU family.
"I was really fortunate to have family and friends, colleagues and this OSU family, because that is what it is, rally and support me and continue to be a source of strength and support that I didn't expect when I came to OSU," Robinson said.
Early in the process, Robinson reached out to a fellow Cowboy and cancer survivor in Larry Reece, as well as Coach Holder, former OSU head coach Mike McGraw and current head coach Alan Bratton.
For somebody who had been healthy his entire life, a nine-hour surgery to remove his thyroid and lymph nodes in his neck marked the first time he had gone under the knife.
"It was a pretty intense surgery. I had a follow-up iodine treatment. I had to go to physical therapy because right shoulder was impacted by some of the things they had to do on that side of the neck," Robinson said.
Now in what is termed the maintenance phase, Robinson pays his doctors a visit every six months for check-ups and does so with a different outlook and a desire to return the favor for all of those who rallied around him.
"I hope I have gained some perspective on some things in my life. Hopefully, I am changed for the good. I know I value some things I didn't think about before," Robinson said.
"One of the things I draw from that experience was the number of people who wanted to help or offer their time. As I go on, I hope I get to be that for somebody else at some point in my life. I just want to be able to return that."
Zack Robinson is the epitome of Cowboy Golf.
For a storied program which prides itself on excellence in all facets, he is a shining example of the all-around excellence OSU golf exemplifies.
On the course, Robinson was an All-American, earning honorable mention status in 2003 and third-team honors two years later. He capped his career by helping OSU capture the NCAA team title in 2006.
The Fort Worth native was equally impressive in the classroom, earning Academic All-Big 12 honors four times and Academic All-America status twice.
Robinson capped his career as the 2006 recipient of the prestigious Byron Nelson Award, which is presented to somebody taking into consideration equal parts their entire collegiate academic career, entire collegiate golf career and his character and integrity while in college. The first-ever Cowboy to win the award, the distinction was special to Robinson for multiple reasons.
"I was really humbled to win the award. Mr. Nelson has done some great things for the game. He is probably on the Mt. Rushmore of golf. There were also a lot of Fort Worth ties that were neat for me," Robinson said.
Additionally, he wanted to further prove the Cowboy program excelled beyond its results on the course.
"I wanted them to see that really good academics could happen at OSU. If anything it was adding to the list of things that had happened at OSU."
Growing up in Texas, Robinson was well aware of the OSU program and did not hesitate when the opportunity to become a Cowboy presented itself.
"I got really lucky to end up in Stillwater, probably more than I deserved at the time. I had some success, but I wouldn't say that I was highly recruited. I heard the stories about OSU: the private airplane, the trips out to Phoenix and PING and all sorts of cool stuff that seemed like a dreamland to me," Robinson said.
When Coach Holder first contacted Robinson, the magnitude of the moment was not lost on him.
"It was a big deal for me because I knew OSU was one of the best teams every year. I felt like if I was going to go play college golf, what more could I ask for than to play with the best every day. I saw it as a great opportunity to come to the best program in the country and see how good I could be."
Ultimately, Robinson did find his way to Stillwater and had a solid start to his collegiate career, posting four top 20s during the spring of 2003. He capped his season with a 19th-place showing at the NCAA Championship on his home course, Karsten Creek. However, the much-coveted team title eluded Robinson and Co. as the Cowboys finished second in their own backyard. Despite the disappointment, Robinson was reminded why the program is unrivaled in many aspects.
"I don't think everybody realizes how the Stillwater community embraces golf and college golf when they come to town. I am always amazed at the crowds. We had such an incredible turnout from the Stillwater community. It was unlike anything I had played in up until that time," Robinson said.
As a junior, Robinson enjoyed another productive campaign with six consecutive top-10 showings during the spring on his way to All-America honors. However, the national championship still eluded him.
With a degree in political science already in hand, Robinson embarked on his final campaign with one thing in mind — an NCAA title.
"I worked really hard and wanted us to win and I was the only guy on that team that had come so close in 2003 and knew how bad it tastes to get close and not win," Robinson said.
"When you walk those halls at Karsten Creek or Gallagher-Iba, you see the history of the athletic programs and you see and feel the history of OSU golf. I felt we had this obligation to do something of merit and of worth while we were there. We wanted to write our own history, so we were adding to that history for the next guys."
And add to that history they did.
After posting consecutive runner-up finishes at The Maxwell and the NCAA Central Regional to help the Cowboys to team titles in their two events leading up to the national championship, Robinson's game was trending in the right direction for his final event as a Cowboy.
When the dust had settled, the Cowboys found themselves three shots clear of the field in Sunriver, Ore., and in possession of the school's 10th NCAA crown. Robinson looks back on that 2006 title run with fond memories especially when it comes to the time spent with teammates Trent and Tyler Leon, Pablo Martin and Jonathan Moore.
"What was cool about Sunriver is we all had a cabin where the whole team stayed together. At that time, our chemistry was really strong. I have said this in the past, but I think chemistry can kind of be the secret weapon on a golf team. When you are playing well and everyone is cheering for each other and you are genuinely happy when the other guy plays well. We fed off that," Robinson explained.
With that victory came the satisfaction of knowing he and his team had secured their place in history and upheld the program's lofty standards set before them and remain in place to this day.
"It meant a lot to all of us who were on that team because we had written history for ourselves and it ultimately helps the next guys as OSU continues to build on that as a program," Robinson said.
"That is one of the coolest things about OSU and its golf program is the longevity. The success over the years that has allowed one team after another to really feel like they are a part of something significant they want to add to it."
Robinson earned his master's in business administration and to nobody's surprise has gone on to a highly successful career in finance as an investment banker after bypassing the chance to play professionally.
"I played with two national players of the year so I saw the best players every day. I made a decision for me, my self assessment was I like academics, I did well and I had some opportunities in the finance world and I wanted to pursue those," Robinson said.
"I haven't ever played a day of pro golf in my life and I have zero regrets about it."
Nevertheless, Robinson's time with the program has proven beneficial on several different levels.
"OSU has done a lot for me. The relationships I have made along the way that have opened up a door or allowed me to expand my horizons in some way. The experience I had on the golf team that reiterated the value of hard work, trying to do things the right way," Robinson said.
"I have tried to use a lot of that to overcome adversity, the world is full of adversity and life is full of adversity."
Adversity reared its ugly head in December of 2019 when Robinson was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. The diagnosis came as a shock to somebody who was a picture of health with virtually no symptoms.
Robinson learned the thing about adversity is nobody has to go through it alone. Especially when you are part of the OSU family.
"I was really fortunate to have family and friends, colleagues and this OSU family, because that is what it is, rally and support me and continue to be a source of strength and support that I didn't expect when I came to OSU," Robinson said.
Early in the process, Robinson reached out to a fellow Cowboy and cancer survivor in Larry Reece, as well as Coach Holder, former OSU head coach Mike McGraw and current head coach Alan Bratton.
For somebody who had been healthy his entire life, a nine-hour surgery to remove his thyroid and lymph nodes in his neck marked the first time he had gone under the knife.
"It was a pretty intense surgery. I had a follow-up iodine treatment. I had to go to physical therapy because right shoulder was impacted by some of the things they had to do on that side of the neck," Robinson said.
Now in what is termed the maintenance phase, Robinson pays his doctors a visit every six months for check-ups and does so with a different outlook and a desire to return the favor for all of those who rallied around him.
"I hope I have gained some perspective on some things in my life. Hopefully, I am changed for the good. I know I value some things I didn't think about before," Robinson said.
"One of the things I draw from that experience was the number of people who wanted to help or offer their time. As I go on, I hope I get to be that for somebody else at some point in my life. I just want to be able to return that."
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