Thursday, April 30, 2009

Van Sickle BIG EAST Player of the Year

It was announced today that Mike Van Sickle was a unanimous selection as the BIG EAST Conference Player of the Year. He was also named to the 11-member All-BIG EAST team. 

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Van Sickle named to USA Palmer Cup team

Marquette University senior Mike Van Sickle was one of eight individuals selected to play for the United States in the 2009 Palmer Cup, a match-play Ryder Cup-style competition between the best college golfers from the United States and Europe.

Selections were announced Thursday on Golfweek.com
by Dustin Roberts of the Golf Coaches Association of America. Named after legendary golfer Arnold Palmer (who is scheduled to attend the event), this year's Palmer Cup will be held June 3-5 at Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colo.

“I'm very excited about this opportunity,” said Van Sickle. “I was really hoping that I would make the team and it became a goal of mine at the beginning of the season. This is one of those tangible rewards for all off the hard work and time you put in behind the scenes. My play this last year has improved across the board, and to accomplish that goal is very gratifying. It seems like it's going to be really strong field.”

Here is a link to the official Marquette press release: http://www.gomarquette.com/sports/m-golf/spec-rel/042309aaa.html

Link to Golfweek.com video: http://www.golfweektv.com/lances_room.asp?CATEGORY_ID=99&ID=5413&FMT=WM

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

VIDEO: Recap of the BIG EAST Men's Golf Championship

MUTV's Brad Galli interviewed Mike Van Sickle today to get his thoughts on the BIG EAST Men's Golf Championship and his runner-up finish. Check out the video, which is now posted on the MUTV Sports blog.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Van Sickle tied atop leaderboard at BIG EAST Men's Golf Championship

DADE CITY, Fla. -- With a low-round 5-under-par 67 yesterday at the BIG EAST Conference Men's Golf Championship, Marquette's Mike Van Sickle now shares the lead with Louisville's Adam Hadwin at 4-under 140 for the tournament.

Click here for a Day Two recap (GoMarquette.com)...

Live scoring for Tuesday's final at the Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club is available at Golfstat.com.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Van Sickle featured in hometown paper

Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette wrote a great article on Mike Van Sickle which appeared in this morning's paper. Dulac recaps the amazing year Van Sickle has had thus far, starting with his strong play on the amateur circuits this past summer.

Dulac also points out that Van Sickle, who lists his hometown as Wexford, Pa., is in consideration for many of college and amateur golf's top year-end awards, but notes the struggles of getting noticed when you're a golfer competing at a school not traditionally know for golf or compete in a conference that isn't considered a power conference in collegiate golf.

Read Gerry Dulac's story online: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09109/963554-136.stm

Live Scoring for BIG EAST Championship

Live scoring will be available for the 2009 BIG EAST Men's Golf Championships, which begins today. Mike Van Sickle has a 9:20 a.m. (CT) tee time for today's first round at the South Course of Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club in Dade City, Fla.

Link to live scoring: http://www.golfstatresults.com/public/index.cfm?tournament_id=1389

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Van Sickle scheduled to speak at Western Amateur media day


I was informed earlier this week that Mike Van Sickle has agreed to speak at the 2009 Western Amateur media day, slated for May 18 at Conway Farms Golf Club in Lake Forest, Ill.

There will be a breakfast at the golf course the morning of May 18, one day after Mike receives his college degree at the Marquette University commencement ceremony, followed by a question-and-answer session with Mike.

Mike is also scheduled to play in the event which will be held August 3-8, 2009.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Five wins this season tops in nation

I received confirmation from Mark at Golfstat that Mike's five wins this season lead NCAA Division I. Matt Hill of N.C State has posted four victories this year.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

VIDEO: Van Sickle named semifinalist for Ben Hogan Award

Mike Van Sickle has been selected as one of 10 semifinalists for the 2009 The Ben Hogan Award presented by Chesapeake Energy, in association with the Colonial Country Club and The Friends of Golf (FOG), it was announced Thursday by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA).


Other semifinalists for this year’s honor are Jorge Campillo (Indiana), Bud Cauley (Alabama), Rickie Fowler (Oklahoma State), Matthew Giles (USC), Morgan Hoffman (Oklahoma State), Billy Horschel (Florida), Kyle Stanley (Clemson), Nick Taylor (Washington) and Cameron Tringale (Georgia Tech).

The announcement was made by the GCAA on a special show on Golfweek.com, hosted by Asher Wildman. Click on the image below to link to the video:

BIG EAST Golfer of the Week

Mike Van Sickle earned BIG EAST Conference Golfer of the Week honors for the third time this spring, the league announced late this morning. Van Sickle was named as a semifinalist for The Ben Hogan Award earlier today.

Both announcements come after Van Sickle captured his 11th collegiate victory, fifth title this season, by winning the Palisades Collegiate Classic with a score of 16-under-par 200 (69-65-66).

Link to MU press release: http://www.gomarquette.com/sports/m-golf/spec-rel/041609aab.html

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

AUDIO: "Lance & Asher Show" shout out

Mike Van Sickle received a shout out from Asher Wildman of Golfweek during the latest "Asher & Lance Show." The show, which also features Lance Ringler as co-host airs as a podcast on Golfweek.com (where you can also find a link to the podcast).

Fast forward to about 10:25, which is right near the end of the show.

Direct link to audio: http://www.golfweektv.com/podcasts/college-lanceNasher-041509.mp3

Van Sickle featured in Marquette magazine

Mike Van Sickle was featured in the Spring 2009 edition of Marquette magazine, which I received in my campus mailbox earlier this week.

"Ace: Van Sickle shows real drive," appears on page nine. click the image to the right for a direct link to the online verson.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Van Sickle Rallies For 11th Collegiate Win

Update (6:04 p.m.): Link to complete recap/results

Although complete results will not be available until later this evening, I have confirmed that Mike Van Sickle has won the Palisades Collegiate Classic at Palisades Country Club in Charlotte, N.C.

Mike won by two strokes Tuesday , closing with a pair of birdies to fire a final-round 66. He finished at 16-under-par 200, one stroke shy of matching his all-time low in a 54-hole event.

I spoke with Mike's father Gary , who was still at the golf course while the final groups were wrapping up for the day, around 3:30 p.m. CT.

I later called the clubhouse -- after all golfers were finished competing -- to confirm that Mike indeed had won the event.

It's his 11th collegiate victory -- a school record -- and fifth this season. Congrats, Mike, on another great tournament.

Van Sickle goes head-to-head with columnist

John Borneman of The Marquette Tribune played 18 holes with Mike Van Sickle and two other MU teammates this past Thursday. Borneman wrote a column about the experience, which appears in today's edition of the Tribune, "Van Sickle will be MU's next great alum."

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Live scoring not available at Palisades

Just a heads up, it appears as though live scoring will not be available for the Palisades Collegiate Classic, which begins Monday. A brief recap and complete results will be available at GoMarquette.com as soon as they are received.

Golfers will play 36 holes Monday followed by final round of 18 on Tuesday. Monday's weather forecast for Charlotte calls for an 80 percent chance of rain and also a chance for thunderstorms on Tuesday.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

NCAA Division I Statistics Leaders

According to the latest NCAA Division I statistics rankings released by Golfstat (April 3, 2009), Mike Van Sickle continues to lead the nation in birdies (129), in addition to par-4 scoring (3.96) and sub-par strokes per round (5.22).

Van Sickle also currently ranks third in putting par (-2.17) and birdie conversion (.378); fifth in putts on greens in regulation (1.722); and seventh in greens in regulation (.744) and eagles (6).

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Ben Hogan semifinalists announced April 16

Semifinalists for the 2009 Ben Hogan Award are scheduled to be announced on April 16, not on April 6 as was originally reported on GoMarquette.com.

Mike Van Sickle became the first Marquette golfer to be named to the Ben Hogan Award watch list when the list was released back in February.

The Ben Hogan Award is given to the best collegiate golfer, taking into consideration all collegiate and amateur events played in a 12-month period.