Moving On

Well, came up a bit short at the Louisiana qualifier. Took 67 to get in under windy conditions and I just didn't hit it well enough. Short game was good though, kept me in contention for a while. I'm in Orlando for a couple days of practice, then I'm headed to Del Ray Beach to watch the MU golf team play in a tournament. I think having my presence there might give them some good vibes... haha. Then I'm headed to Hilton Head for a couple weeks. Just signed up for my next tournament, which will be the eGolf Tour event in North Carolina April 7-10. After that I've got a pair of Nationwide qualifiers the last two weeks in April. For now that's the schedule. Finalizing some details with a sponsor for my left chest logo, I'll be unveiling who it is and what their about in the coming week!

Happy Trails: Arizona

My time in Scottsdale for the moment has come to a close. After a 20+ hour drive from Scottsdale, I have arrived in Lafayette, Louisiana to compete in the Monday qualifier for the Louisiana Open (a Nationwide Tour event). I played a practice round today at the Wetlands GC where my qualifier for 7 spots will take place. There are roughly 80 guys vouching for those spots in the tournament. A front is coming through bringing some rain right now and it's expected to be cool and windy. The interesting thing is that, in comparison to Arizona, I'm finding I need to dial down my yardages a little bit as the ball doesn't fly as far down here at sea level as it did back in the dry air of Arizona. I'm looking forward to Monday and excited about my first opportunity to play my way onto the Nationwide Tour.

Cudos to Lazar and company for a great season. A tough way to end it losing to Washington, but they played their guts out and represented MU well.

Gateway Event Number 2

After a promising 69 in the first round last week, severe wind and a cold putter in round 2 led to a missed cut. However, I'm playing another Gateway Tour event that begins tomorrow, so I don't have to wait too long for a shot at some redemption. I'm teeing off at 11am EST at Papago Golf Course. Played a practice round today and hit some really good shots. I'm excited to play tomorrow.

Practicing at GCS

Gateway Tournament

Signed up for my first Gateway Tour event of the year and it begins tomorrow at Southern Dunes. After a month of solid practice and play, I feel great about my game and am looking forward to playing in some competitive events. My instructor from back home in Pittsburgh, Joe Boros, came down and helped me out two weeks ago. We made some excellent strides forward and I'm really becoming comfortable with where my game is at. Southern Dunes is a longer course and should prove favorable for my length. You can follow along on the Gateway Tour's website...

Just got back from watching MU blowout Louisville... love it! I'm going to be in Scottsdale for a couple more weeks yet before I head out to Louisiana for the Nationwide event that's there. Looks like I'm going to have to Monday qualify there, but I'm ready.

Team Van-Gray earn first round victory

Today Ted Gray and I played our first round match of the Phoenix Fourball at FireRock CC, earning a 4 & 3 victory. Although I got off to a sluggish start, Ted was ready to go, birdieing 2 of the first 3 holes, putting us 2 up. A deuce by our competitors, on the par 3 6th, put the match back to 1 up... until I drained a 30-footer on 7 and Ted followed with his own birdie on 8. A pitching wedge to a foot on 10 gave me another birdie, and our team a 4 up lead. After some good drives on 11, we really managed to butcher the rest of the hole, making bogey and falling back to 3 up. But a pair of birdies on the 485 yd par-4 15th gained us the 4 & 3 win. You can follow online at the Phoenix Fourball website.

Golden Eagle Tag-Team

I've just signed up for my first tournament of 2010, and although it's not on Tour, it's going to be a fun one. While practicing out at The Golf Club Scottsdale I ran into Big East Champion Ted Gray, my former teammate. He too is out at GCS and giving the golf route a roll. We decided to team up once again and Ring Out Ahoya on some other pros in the area by signing up for the Phoenix FourBall Match Play Tournament. It consists of 32 teams playing in a Best Ball Match Play format. It can be followed on www.Phoenixfourball.com and matches will take place once every two weeks.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the McCahill Award Luncheon! It was great to see so many familiar faces and I really appreciate all the support I've had through the years from the Marquette Community. It was also great to see our boys finally get a bit of a breather and not have a game come down to the wire too.

Go Marquette!

New Year, New Changes

Hey everyone, Mike Van Sickle here. I'm going to be taking over updating the site from now on. A few things have happened since making it through First Stage. Unfortunately my putter went a little cold out at Callaway Gardens in Georgia for the Second Stage of Q-School and I came up a bit short. All in all it was a good experience and I'll be able to really fine tune the aspects of my game that still need perfected this year. I'll most likely be giving Monday qualifyings a run to start the year and play some mini-tour events on the side. Hopefully I can get my foot in the door early on the Nationwide or PGA, but if not, there are many other tours to choose from.

I signed with an agent, David Winkle, from Hambric Sports Management. He's an agent with players such as Justin Leonard, Bob Tway, Dustin Johnson, and other notables... but most importantly he's a truly stand-up guy, and everyone in golf who I've talked to has had nothing but great things to say about David. Since then I have also signed on with TaylorMade/Adidas and will be sporting their equipment and apparel at upcoming tournaments, however I'm still looking to get an MU logo placed on the bag too.

I reached Scottsdale, AZ today from my home in Pittsburgh... a fun 32-hour drive. I'm looking forward to some winter training to get the game in gear. I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy new year!

Fly like an Eagle, Fight like a Warrior!

PGA Q-School: First Stage

Mike Van Sickle continues his quest for a Tour card at a PGA Q-School First Stage qualifier in Valdosta, Ga. Van Sickle will play four rounds, Oct. 27-30, at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club, one of 11 First Stage sites across the country.

The former Marquette all-American has been paired with Pat Grady and Carlos Sainz for the first two rounds of the stroke play event with an opening round tee time set for 9:40 a.m. ET, Wednesday, Oct. 27.

Van Sickle won a Pre-Qualifying tournament in Lincoln, Neb., back in September, which earned him the right to advance through to the First Stage.

Link to Q-School tournament information and results.
http://pgatq.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/pgatq9/event/pgatq911/index.htm

Van Sickle Helps Pennsylvania to USGA State Team Championship

Mike Van Sickle closed with rounds of 68 and 67, respectively, to help lead Pennsylvania to the 2009 USGA Men's State Team Championship at The Country Club of St. Albans (Mo.), Sept. 23-25.

Van Sickle finished the tournament at four-under-par 207, as Pennsylvania claimed a three-stroke victory over Kansas. Partnered with Van Sickle were fellow Pittsburgh-area amateurs Sean Knapp and Nathan Smith.

Full Story (USGA.org)