Rubinson emerging as one of nation’s best amateur golfers as team heads into season
Adam Rubinson has emerged as one of the best amateur golfers in the country. He is poised to become the No. 1 player in college golf.
By Jay Zuckerman
Skiff Staff

Most people would think that the son of an Olympic soccer player who coached at the Division I level for 22 years would follow in his father’s athletic footsteps.

They have not met Adam Rubinson, a senior golfer at TCU, who choose golf over soccer as a youth because he would rather walk out to the golf clubs than run after the soccer ball.

Adam is the son of David Rubinson, TCU’s men’s soccer coach since 1981 and women’s soccer coach since 1986. He grew up just several miles from the main campus and attended nearby Paschal High School, where he was coached by former TCU basketball player Herb Stephens.

Adam Rubinson received numerous athletic honors at Paschal. He was voted Team MVP in his last three years and received all-state honors his senior season. He did not, however, receive an athletic scholarship offer from the Frogs.

Despite scholarship offers from Stanford and Oklahoma, Adam Rubinson instead chose to walk-on to the TCU golf squad. He grew up around the Frog athletic program and said he loved what TCU had to offer.

Adam Rubinson received an unexpected opportunity from head coach Bill Montigel to start as a true freshman. He averaged a score of 75.50 a round and was TCU’s top performer in two events.

“We did not have a very good team, so Adam got to start his freshman year,” Montigel said. “He played pretty well at first.”

Adam Rubinson requested to be redshirted his next season, recognizing the need to improve his game. He toiled on the links with a strong determination to develop his game further.

“Adam was one of the most committed guys I’ve ever seen,” Montigel said. “He took his swing and started over with it.”

Adam Rubinson returned to action for the 2000-2001 season, receiving first team all-Western Athletic Conference honors. He shaved more than two strokes off his average, finishing the season with a 73.21 strokes a round average.

By the end of the 2001-2002 year, Adam Rubinson emerged on to the national scene. He started the season with nine of his first 10 rounds under par. He received All-American and All-Conference USA honors. The season culminated with a second-place finish in the NCAA Championships, just one stroke from first place.

“I just progressed mentally and physically and got a little bit better each year,” Adam Rubinson said.

With two freshmen and a transfer sophomore starting on this year’s squad, Adam Rubinson has assumed a leadership role.

“From the very first day, he’s kind of taken all of the new guys under his wing and kind of told them what college golf was going to be all about,” Montigel said. “He’s been a real leader and guided them in the right direction.”

Adam Rubinson has started his final season ablaze by finishing second place in the Sooner Invitational. He has been ranked as high as No. 6 in the Golfweek-Titleist Men’s individual amateur rankings. He plans to turn professional after the golf season is finished.

Montigel has high expectations for his star golfer.

“I fully expect Adam to be a first team All-American and it wouldn’t surprise me if he is college player of the year,” Montigel said.

Adam Rubinson is more than just a golfer; he is also a member of the Captain’s Table, an organization which listens to the needs and concerns of fellow athletes.

“He’s one of the most caring and nicest guys around,” Montigel said. “When he leaves here, it is going to be really hard on our program to replace him.”