Oklahoma State players honor coach's father

Oklahoma State men's coach Mike McGraw is a quiet, humble man, one who would never use a heavy heart as an excuse for not giving his full attention to the Cowboy program. Still, no one would blame McGraw for being distracted as the 2010-11 season started after the death of his father, Gervis, on Sept. 5 at age 80.

To honor both father and son, OSU golfers will be toting bag tags with a picture of McGraw's dad on them starting this weekend at the Ping/Golfweek Preview, being held at OSU's home course Karsten Creek GC Sept. 26-28. Assistant coach__Alan Bratton__ had the momentos made prior to the tournament.

It was Gervis's love of golf that rubbed off on Mike, one of Gervis and Patricia McGraw's seven children. Gervis started caddying at Abilene (Texas) CC at age 11 only to began playing the game in earnest two years later. At age 16 he set the course record when he shot a 61 and was good enough to qualify for the 1949 U.S. Open at Medinah CC. He eventually became a club professional, taking the head professional job at Ponca City (Okla.) CC in May 1957, a position he held until 1982. In 1983, he opened his own club repair shop in Oklahoma City, where he worked until retiring in 2005.