Women's Golf
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- grober14@kent.edu
- Phone:
- 330-672-4629
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Greg Robertson was named the Kent State women's golf head coach in June 2013, becoming just the second head coach in the 19-year history of the women's golf program. In his four seasons at the helm, he has led the team to break the season scoring record every year, setting the bar at 290.87 and 3.49 versus par in 2016-17. Robertson currently holds a 78.4 win percentage through his four years as head coach. In the last two seasons, the team has also had the most rounds at par or better, shattering any total in previous years with 29 team rounds at par or better. The 2016-17 Kent State women's golf team won its 19th straight MAC Women's Golf Championship and competed in the NCAA National Championship. Kent State had its best finish at Nationals, finishing in a tie for fifth in the quarterfinals of match play. Kent State ended the year ranked 14th in the nation and claimed four First Team All-MAC honors. The Golden Flashes had an NCAA best 545 birdies throughout 2016-17, 136 more birdies than any other year. Second Team All-American Pimnipa Panthong, MAC Freshman and Player of the Year, led the team in most of the major statistical categories, including a 71.49 scoring average, lowest round of 63, and most rounds in the 60's with 10. Panthong led the nation in birdies with 139. Sophomore Michaela Finn also had one of the best seasons in program history, capping it off with the 2017 MAC Individual Championship. Wad Phaewchimplee finished off an incredible career, claiming the lowest career scoring average in Kent State history at 73.48. The 2015-16 team also ended their campaign ranked 14th in the nation. Kent State won six events, including three-straight in the fall, and including the program's 18th consecutive MAC Championship, setting a new record for the conference across all sports. Taylor Kim set a single season scoring average record at the time en route to being named the MAC Golfer of the Year. She was joined by Phaewchimplee and Josee Doyon on the All-MAC First Team while Amira Alexander and Michaela Finn were All-MAC Second Team. The Golden Flashes made history by winning their 17th consecutive Mid-American Conference Championship, tying the MAC record in all sports for consecutive titles in 2015. On the season, Wad Phaewchimplee set a single-season scoring record at the time and became Kent State's new career scoring leader. Josée Doyon won MAC Golfer of the Year and MAC Championship medalist honors while winning three-straight events. In 2013-14, Robertson guided the team to its 16th-straight Mid-American Conference Championship in his first season and on to NCAA Regionals. Under his direction, the 2013-14 squad posted the best scoring average in program history at the time (298.6) and won a then-record five tournament titles. Six Golden Flashes received All-MAC honors in Robertson's inaugural year, including the repeat MAC Golfer of the Year and MAC Medalist, Jennifer Ha. Six All-MAC honorees was the best in school history. Phaewchimplee started her collegiate career by becoming the NCAA Regional Champion, MAC Freshman of the Year and an Honorable Mention All-American. In his time with Kent State, Robertson has emphasized academic success and the results prove it. In four seasons, Kent State has earned nine All-American Scholar selections and 11 Academic All-MAC honors. The program earned its highest GPA to date in the fall of 2016, with a team GPA of 3.71. Overall, seven players have exhausted their eligibility under Robertson at Kent State, all of which have earned their degrees. A 16-year coaching veteran, Robertson joined the Golden Flashes from Purdue where he was the associate head coach for 11 seasons. He was honored with the Jan Strickland Assistant Coach of the Year Award in 2005. The prestigious award is given to "the NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA or NJCAA men's assistant coach that, among other things, has helped their student-athletes excel both on the course and in the classroom." During his 11-year stint as the associate head coach at Purdue, Robertson assisted in building the Boilermakers' women's golf program into one of the nation's elite. Purdue advanced to the NCAA Championships during each year of his tenure on staff. The Boilermakers captured the 2010 national title and Maria Hernandez was the NCAA individual champion in 2009. Overall, the Purdue women's golf team had five top-5 NCAA finishes, one NCAA Regional title, and five Big Ten titles with Robertson on staff. Purdue also boasted 16 All-American selections, seven Big Ten medalists, six Big Ten Player of the Year recipients, and 40 All-Big Ten selections during that time. The Boilermakers were one of just two programs to earn a top-10 finish at each of the NCAA Championships from 2006-2013. In his time with both Kent State and Purdue, Robertson has consistently led student-athletes to the top level of professional golf. Seven players under Robertson have earned their LPGA card, with Jennifer Ha becoming the first player in Kent State history to earn her card in 2017. In addition, former Purdue players Adam Schenk and Tyler Duncan earned their PGA card, while Shiv Kapur competed on the European Tour. Robertson also spent time as a caddie, with his most extensive caddying coming on the women’s side. He carried the bag for his sister, JoJo, at the 1998 U.S. Women's Open, where she tied for 59th as an amateur. His work as a caddie has been instrumental in the success of former Boilermaker star Maria Hernandez, having worked with her on six occasions over the last eight years. Robertson caddied for Hernandez during the final stage of LPGA Q-School in 2009 (t-5th), as well as the U.S. Women's Open in both 2009 (t-34th) and 2010 (t-41st), the 2010 LPGA Tour Championship (t-68th) and the 2014 LPGA Marathon Classic (t-69th). Most recently, Hernandez made the cut in the 2015 LPGA Canadian Pacific Women's Open with Robertson at her side. Robertson also caddied for Kent State standout Jennifer Ha at the Canadian Pacific Women's Open in 2014 prior to her senior season where Ha finished tied for 64th as an amateur in the LPGA event. Ha beat three Top 20 players in the world. Robertson's golfers have now made the cut in all seven LPGA events he has caddied in. He has also walked with former Oklahoma State teammate Chris Tidland in two events on the Web.com Tour and caddied for former Purdue standout Laura Gonzalez Escallon at the final stage of LPGA Q-school in 2013. Robertson began his coaching career in 2001 as a volunteer assistant coach at Oklahoma State University and helped his alma mater finish 16th at the NCAA Championships. Oklahoma State won four conference titles and the 1995 national title during his four years as a member of the Cowboys' golf program from 1993-97. Robertson, who redshirted his freshman year, graduated from Oklahoma State with a degree in sports science in 1997. With a year of eligibility remaining, he transferred to the University of New Mexico for his senior season and helped the Lobos win the 1998 NCAA West Regional. While at New Mexico, Robertson began working on his master’s degree in sports administration. Following his final collegiate season, Robertson competed professionally for three seasons. In 2000, he played on the Canadian Tour and competed at the PGA Tour’s Nissan Open (now called the Genesis Open).He also won the New Mexico State Amateur Championship in 1995. Greg and his wife Ashlee have two sons, Michael and Tyler. WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT GREG ROBERTSON“Greg Robertson is one of the bright young coaches in America. His record speaks for itself. Having caddied in three U.S. Opens, his course management and preparation skills are second to none. Any serious players would benefit from his knowledge and coaching.” |
By The Numbers • 5 Years as Head Coach • 2 NCAA Championship Appearance • 5 NCAA Regional Appearances • 1 NCAA Regional Individual Champion • 2 WGCA All-American Selections • 5 MAC Championship Team Wins • 3 MAC Championship Individual Champions • 4 MAC Golfer of the Year Honorees • 3 MAC Freshman of the Year Honorees • 19 All-MAC Selections (13 1st Team, six 2nd Team) • 2 MAC Coach of the Year Awards • 20 Team Wins • 16 Individual Wins (7 different players) • 12 All-American Scholar Selections • 14 Academic All-MAC Selections • 7 Graduates |
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