� Rob
� Cristi
With a combined family of five children and 11 grandchildren all living in the Kansas City area, Rob and Cristi Wilkin will have plenty to keep them busy after Rob’ s June 30 retirement.
( Photo by Kari DeMeo)
Recruited by Ross Randall to play at Kansas University, Wilkin and Demo helped the Jayhawks reach two NCAA national tournaments— and opened the door to a lifelong golf career for Wilkin.“ Turning [ PGA ] professional is always on your mind,” says Wilkin.“ Right after I graduated from KU [ 1983 ], I went to work in the new clubhouse at Alvamar.” Wilkin turned professional with the PGA of America in 1983, and he achieved Class A status in 1986.
A year later, he went to work for Burey at Wolf Creek for three seasons( 1986-89) before giving the pro tour a try, gaining exempt status on the Hogan Tour( now, the Korn Ferry Tour) for two years.“ A lot of 72s, but that definitely doesn’ t cut it.” He returned to Wolf Creek in 1991, but by the end of the year,“ I was burned out and worked for a Wolf Creek member in the mortgage business at a branch in Las Vegas. I disappeared for three years.” Reappearing in Kansas City in 1985, he worked three seasons for Charles Lewis at Mission Hills before Wayne Montgomery made the wisest decision of his distinguished career by hiring Wilkin at the new Heritage Park course, which opened in 1990.
Looking back on his 29 years, there are too many highlights to recount here.“ Winning the Watson Challenge is way up there. I took the lead in the first round with a 67 and led Tom [ Watson ] by two shots with three holes to go. But I hit a poor shot out of the rough and made double to let him back in.” Tied after 54 holes at 211, Wilkin and Watson would battle through five playoff holes, kept alive by Wilkin’ s outstanding bunker shot. Playing Halbrook’ s No. 11 for the second time, Wilkin rolled in a 4-footer for par, but Watson had almost the same putt slip past the hole.“ I decelerated,” said Watson.“ I probably played with him 20 times, and it was the only time I beat him. He’ s my idol,” said Wilkin.
Making the cut in the 1988 U. S Open at The Country Club in Brookline, MA, outside Boston, also stands out big.“ Three over was the cut, and I was tied with Tom, but he beat me on the weekend. I shot 74-77; tough course.” In 1991, at the PGA Championship won by John Daly at Crooked Stick, Wilkin birdied the first two holes to take the early lead in the tourney.“ Skip Maiwald was my caddy, and we just made my tee time.”
His 18 Player of the Year awards will never be approached, nor will his nine Midwest Section PGA championships. He’ s a member of four Hall of Fames, including the prestigious Kansas Golf Foundation Hall of Fame in 2025.
Keeping busy won’ t be a problem. Wilkin and his wife, Cristi, have a combined family of five children and 11 grandkids.“ They all live here in the area, so we’ ll have plenty to do watching them. We have a trip planned to Aruba, and I’ ll play more golf. I haven’ t played more than 10 rounds a year the last six years.”
We have featured numerous articles about Wilkin’ s work at Heritage Park Golf Course and his abundant golfing achievements. Like everyone who knows him, we’ re sending him all the best wishes for his retirement and the new adventures ahead. And let’ s all pray he’ s able to play more than 10 rounds next year! Cheers— Rob!
A panoramic photo is needed to show many of the numerous PGA tournaments, Player of the Year, Hall of Fame, and individual tournaments won by Heritage Park’ s Rob Wilkin.
( Photo by Alan Hoskins)
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