He was born on December 8, 1975, at Thunder Bay, ON, but Rob McMillan’s outstanding golf achievements are strictly a Manitoba production.
The golf record books are filled with the McMillan name. The lists show him as a four-time Manitoba Junior Champion, three-time Manitoba Amateur Champion, one-time Manitoba Open Champion, two-time Canadian Juvenile Champion, three-time Canadian Junior Champion, one-time Canadian Amateur Champion, one-time World Junior Champion, twice member of Manitoba’s winning Willingdon Cup teams, six-time winner of Manitoba Amateur Golfer of the Year awards and two-time selection as Manitoba Male Athlete of the Year.‘Robo’, as he is known, made history early as the first ever to win the Canadian Juvenile and Junior Championships in the same year. His three Canadian Junior titles tied for the most ever won. He won the 1996 Manitoba Open as an amateur, competing against the professionals on the Canadian Tour, then added the Canadian Amateur title in the same season.
McMillan was Provincial Junior Champion for four straight years, 1991 through 1994, also adding the Provincial Amateur title in ’93. He followed up with two more Manitoba Amateur crowns in ’95 and ’96. He played on four provincial junior teams, winning national honours in 1991. He played on two Manitoba Willingdon Cup teams in 1995 and 96, winning the national competition both years. He also represented Canada twice at the World Amateur Championships.
He was chosen Golfer of the Year in 1990, was a finalist in 1991 and won the honour again in 1992-93-94-95-96.
Attending University of New Mexico, McMillan was a two-time All-American selection, three-time All-conference selection, Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year in 1995 and placed sixth at the NCAA Division 1 National Championship in 1996.
McMillan played nine years of tour professional golf, seven on the Canadian Tour and two on the Nationwide Tour. Adding to his 1996 Manitoba Open victory as an amateur, he also won twice as a pro on the Canadian Tour — 2000 Vancouver Open and 2002 Barefoot Classic. He was fourth on the all-time career money list for the Canadian Tour and was a board member for three years. He played in 10 PGA events (seven Canadian Opens and three Air Canada championships). He is currently the Executive Chairman of the Canadian Tours Players Cup event.
Rob McMillan is an inductee into the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame and Museum Inc., September 27, 2010