Cowboy Golf History - Oklahoma State University Athletics

For the last 68 years, the Oklahoma State men’s golf program has continuously been an example of excellence both on and off the golf course. The tradition of excellence established by the school is among the nation’s best. The consistency of its outstanding performance is a tribute to the school’s first three coaches and its long list of outstanding players.

With only four coaches since the program’s inception in 1947, the Oklahoma State program has been able to consistently maintain its high level of success. From 1947 to ’73, the program was in the hands of the legendary Labron Harris, who passed away on August 14, 1995, at the age of 86. From 1973-2005, Mike Holder, who played for Harris, was at the helm before turning the reins of one of collegiate sport’s elite programs over to first-year head coach Mike McGraw for the 2005-06 season. The 2013-14 campaign saw one of the program’s former standouts in Alan Bratton assume the head coaching role.

How much stability and production has the program had? Well, Oklahoma State competed in an NCAA-record 65 consecutive NCAA Championships from 1947 to 2011. During those 65 consecutive appearances at the national tournament, OSU produced an amazing record.

During that time, the Cowboys claimed 10 national team championships, including the 2006 title. OSU posted 16 runner-up finishes and finished among the top five 51 times and in the top 10 on 55 occasions during those 65 years. In addition, OSU produced eight NCAA individual championships. The 2013-14 campaign saw the Cowboys add their 17^th runner-up showing to the history books. OSU added to its national championship total in 2018, winning the program's eleventh team title on its home course, Karsten Creek.

In 1958, Ab Justice became OSU’s first official All-American, and, overall, OSU players have earned All-America mention 168 times, including 57 first-team selections. Since the golf coaches started naming academic All-America teams in 1984, Cowboys have earned that honor on 30 occasions.

Cowboy golfers have earned national honors on a regular basis. Nine players have been named the top collegiate golfer in the country during a particular season including Lindy Miller (1978), Bob Tway (1981), Willie Wood (1982), Scott Verplank (1986), Alan Bratton (1994), Charles Howell (2000), Hunter Mahan (2003), Pablo Martin (2006), Rickie Fowler (2008) and Peter Uihlein in 2011. Four Cowboys have earned first-team All-America honors three times including Miller, Tway, Verplank and Kevin Wentworth.

Five others have earned the prestigious Ben Hogan Award. Wentworth claimed the award in 1990, Trip Kuehne was the recipient in 1995, Hunter Mahan in 2003, Rickie Fowler in 2008 and Peter Uihlein was the latest honoree in 2011. Zack Robinson was named the winner of the Byron Nelson Award in 2006.

Over the years, Oklahoma State has always been among the nation’s top teams. While dual play was in fashion during the Labron Harris years, tournament play took over in the 1970s. Since 1974 when Mike Holder became head coach, OSU’s tournament success has become legendary.

The Cowboys have entered 541 tournaments during the past 39 years and have won 209 times for an unbelievable 38.6 winning percentage. OSU has also managed 121 runner-up finishes, meaning the Cowboys have been first or second in 61 percent of the tournaments they have entered.

Notable players that competed for OSU during the Harris years include Earl Moeller, Ab Justice, Bob Dickson, Danny Edwards, George Hixon and Mark Hayes. Holder era standouts include Lindy Miller, Bob Tway, Scott Verplank, Kevin Wentworth, David Edwards, Willie Wood, Brian Watts, Michael Bradley, Alan Bratton, Chris Tidland, Charles Howell, Hunter Mahan and Bo Van Pelt.

And now with the outstanding golf course, Karsten Creek, and all its exceptional practice facilities available to members of the OSU golf teams, the tradition established in the first 65 years should continue into the next half century for Cowboy Golf.

The OSU Tradition
· Competed in an NCAA-record 65 consecutive NCAA Championships from 1947 to 2011, winning 10 national titles and finishing lower than fifth just 14 times.

· Owns 55 conference titles, including 36 of 39 Big Eight championships. OSU also lays claim to 46 individual conference champions.

· Boasts 168 All-Americans, including at least one first-team All-American in 41 of the last 56 years.

· Has produced nine NCAA individual championships, including Earl Moeller (1953), Grier Jones (1968), David Edwards (1978), Scott Verplank (1986), Brian Watts (1987), E.J. Pfister (1988), Charles Howell (2000), Jonathan Moore (2006) and Matthew Wolff.

· Has produced 10 National Players of the Year in Lindy Miller (1978) Bob Tway (1981), Willie Wood (1982), Scott Verplank (1986), and Alan Bratton (1994 co-winner), Charles Howell (2000), Hunter Mahan (2003) and Pablo Martin (2006), Rickie Fowler (2008) and Peter Uihlein (2011).

· Has produced 30 Academic All-Americans since honors started in 1984

· Boasts eight student-athletes who earned first-team Athletic and Academic All-American honors.

· Has been under the direction of only four coaches as Labron Harris coached from 1947 to ’73, Mike Holder led the program from 1973 through 2005 before Mike McGraw took over during the fall of 2005. Alan Bratton moved into the head coaching role for the 2013-14 campaign.

The First 68 Years
· In 1947, when OSU first fielded a golf team that would win the Missouri Valley Conference Championship and finish fifth at the NCAA Championship in its inaugural season. Former head coach Mike Holder was still a year away from being born.

· In 1953, OSU’s Earl Moeller won the individual national title.

· In 1958, OSU joined the Big Eight Conference, winning the team title in its first year in the league and then finishing second at the NCAA Championship, then its highest finish at the tournament.

· In 1963, OSU claimed its first NCAA team title, edging Houston by one shot. George Hixon was the NCAA individual runner-up by one stroke.

· In 1968, Grier Jones joined Moeller as NCAA individual champions from OSU.

· July 1973, Mike Holder hired as Head Coach.

· In 1975, OSU started a stretch where it finished first or second at the NCAA Championship in 13 of 14 years.

· In 1978, David Edwards claimed the NCAA individual title as the Cowboys won NCAA team championship number 3.

· In 1986, OSU started a three-year string that saw a Cowboy win the NCAA individual championship each spring. Scott Verplank in 1986, Brian Watts in 1987 and E.J. Pfister in 1988.

· In 1991, OSU won NCAA team championship number seven.

· Karsten Creek opens in May 1994.

· In 1995, OSU won NCAA team championships number eight and for the second consecutive year boasted the individual runner-up at the meet as Alan Bratton was second in 1994 and Chris Tidland finished runner-up in 1995.

· In 1996, OSU celebrated in 50th year of collegiate golf excellence as arguably the nation’s premier program.

· In 2000, OSU won NCAA Team Championship number nine in a playoff over Georgia Tech. Charles Howell, fueled by a record-breaking performance, became OSU’s seventh individual champion.

· In 2003, Oklahoma State became the first team to capture four Big 12 Championships. Four months later Mike McGraw is hired as Oklahoma State’s third head coach.

· In 2006, OSU continued its record streak of competing in every NCAA Championship for the last 60 years and captured its 10th NCAA title.

· In 2007, the Cowboys captured their 50th conference championship, a national record.

· OSU’s second-place finish at the NCAA Championship in 2010 marked the 50^th top-five showing in the program’s history.

· Peter Uihlein became the fourth Cowboy to win the U.S. Amateur Championship in 2010.

· In 2013, Alan Bratton became the fourth head coach in program history and Jordan Niebrugge became the first Cowboy to win the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship.