In his sixth year leading the Missouri men's golf program, and in his seventhth year overall at MU, is Head Coach Tim Robyn.
Tabbed prior to the 1998-99 season as the successor to longtime Tiger skipper Richard Poe, Robyn (ROE-buy-n) has quickly established Mizzou as one of the up-and-coming programs in the midwest region.
Robyn guided his Tigers to unprecedented success in 2002, as his squad finished fifth at the Big 12 Championships and qualified as a team for the NCAA Central Regional. The Big 12 finish marked the highest ever for MU as part of the league, and it was also the best showing for a Missouri team in a conference championship since a third place finish in the 1988 Big Eight Championship.
Additionally, the Tigers showed amazing improvement at Prairie Dunes, where the tournament has been held each year. In 2001, Mizzou finished ninth with a team score of 952, but in 2002, Robyn's squad knocked an amazing 80 strokes off the previous year (playing with three of the same players from the year before), finishing with a score of 872.
Mizzou turned in top-five finishes in six of eight spring 2002 events, including consecutive runner-up showings at the Birkdale Collegiate and the Stevinson Ranch Invitational. The strength of regular season earned MU a berth in the NCAA Central Regional, which marked Missouri's first such appearance since 1995.
An excellent teacher of the game, Robyn prides himself in assisting with the development of young players. He helped mold Mark McBride into one of the nation's top amateur players, as McBride made history by winning two straight Missouri State Amateur Championships in 2000 and 2001. He became the first person to win consecutive Missouri Amateurs since Tom Watson did the same in 1970 and 1971.
McBride was named to the All-Big 12 team in 2002, marking the first such honor for an MU golfer since the inception of the league in 1996. Additionally, McBride and Brandon Knaub were named to the NCAA All-Central Region Team in 2002, marking more firsts for the program.
Robyn has implemented an all-encompassing plan to develop Missouri into a well-rounded program.
In addition to being successful in raising the talent level each year at MU, Robyn has focused on facility improvements and academic progress.
In his short time on board, Robyn has helped oversee important changes at MU's home course (A.L. Gustin) that have given the Tigers much-needed practice facilities. His efforts on the academic side resulted in Robyn being honored with the University of Missouri Coaches' Award for Academic Enhancement in 2001. Six of his players have earned Academic All-Big 12 honors over the past two seasons.
Under Robyn's direction, Missouri has finished 2nd three consecutive years at its own Nestle Purina Classic tournament -- held each fall at the Missouri Bluffs just outside of St. Louis, Mo. The runner-up finishes mark the highest MU has ever placed in the prestigious event which is considered one of the top fall collegiate competitions.
Robyn guided Mizzou to a team championship in the fall of 1999 at the Kansas Invitational -- MU's first team title since 1995. It also was a significant win for the fact that the Tigers knocked off the host Jayhawks on their home course at a time when KU was ranked #1 in the nation. That represented the first time in school history that the Tigers have defeated a top-ranked team.
Robyn served as an assistant for the 1997-98 season at Missouri, where he was responsible for recruiting, travel and tournament operations, in addition to coaching duties.
A native of San Diego, Calif., Robyn was a two-time NCAA All-American golfer at Stanford University, where he earned a dual degree (Economics/Engineering-Economic Systems) in 1985. He was an honorable-mention All-American as a freshman in 1981, and earned third-team status in 1985 with a 14th-place finish at the NCAA Championships. A three-time All-Pac Ten player, Robyn was also named an academic All-American while playing for the Cardinal.
Following his graduation, Robyn played professionally from 1985 through 1992, and was a winner on several different tours. A few of his tour stops included the Hooters Tour (1985-90), the South African Tour (1989 and 1992), and the Nike Tour (1991-92). He also qualified for, and played in the 1991 U.S. Open at Hazeltine National in Chaska, Minn.
As an instructor, Robyn has been featured in corporate outings with the Rick Smith Golf Academy (1999-present), was a full swing instructor at the prestigious Coaches Golf School (2000-01) and served as course management instructor at the Coaches Golf School (1999).
Robyn, 41, is married to the former Angie Heffner, who is a judge. They are the parents of one-year old daughter Emily. Robyn is also the father of 10-year old daugther Kayla and 7-year old son Davis.
PERSONAL
•Hometown
San Diego, Calif.
•Birthdate
Aug. 9, 1961
•Family
Wife, Angie
Daughter, Kayla (10)
Son, Davis (7)
Daughter, Emily (1)
•Education
B.A., Economics, Stanford, 1985
M.S., Engineering-Economic Systems, Stanford, 1985
•College Career
Stanford, 1981-85
•College Honors
All-American, 1981, 85
All-Pac 10, 1981, 84, 85
Academic All-American, 1985
