Van Sickle to play in Nationwide Tour event

Mike Van Sickle has been invited to play in the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational, a Nationwide Tour event, to be held at Ohio State University's Scarlet Course, July 30 through August 2.

Invitations to compete in this week's tournament in Columbus, Ohio, were extended to 2009 Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) award winners and first-team All-Americans. Van Sickle was this year's Byron Nelson Award winner, in addition to being named to the PING All-America First Team.

[link to full story on GoMarquette.com]

Van Sickle Earns All-America Scholar Award For Second Straight Year

For the second consecutive year, Mike Van Sickle has been named a Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar, it was recently announced by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA).

Van Sickle, recipient of this year's Byron Nelson Award, was one of two All-Americans to be honored by the GCAA. He led NCAA Division I in scoring average (70.00) this past season, among other statistical categories, and graduated from Marquette University in May with a 3.3 cumulative grade point average.

[read full story on GoMarquette.com]

Van Sickle meets with media

In addition to one-on-one TV interviews and a candid sit-down with local sports talk radio station WSSP 1250 AM (Peaches???), Mike Van Sickle held two press conferences Wednesday following the Pro-Am at the U.S. Bank Championship.

A video of Van Sickle's second press conference of the afternoon is available on Marquette's YouTube channel. As for his round in the Pro-Am? He shot a 63, but the PGA made him play from the white tees.

A complete transcript (download PDF) of Mike's press conference earlier in the day is also available for download.

VIDEO: "Mike's Diary" on WTMJ-TV

Our good friend Lance Allan over at WTMJ-TV ("Today's TMJ4") will be featuring Mike Van Sickle in a video diary this week in conjunction with the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee.

Check out the first installment titled, "Marquette and Mike" online at Lance's blog at: http://www.todaystmj4.com/bloggers/lanceallan/50810032.html.

Scheduled to run during tonight's evening news will be a feature focused on the Van Sickle family, including father Gary and mother Betsy.

Van Sickle hosts free kids' clinic at U.S. Bank Championship, first round tee times set

Mike Van Sickle hosted a free children's golf clinic Tuesday at Brown Deer Park Golf Course in Milwaukee where it was Family Day at the U.S. Bank Championship.

The session included an introduction by Marquette University head men's golf coach Tim Grogan followed by golf instruction by Van Sickle and fan Q&A. Afterward, the former Golden Eagle signed autographs. Approximately 65 people attended the clinic.

Van Sickle will play in the U.S. Bank Championship Pro-Am on Wednesday. He will tee off his first round at 1:10 p.m. on Thursday, July 16 (starting on hole 10) and is paired with Casey Wittenberg and James Oh. More details will follow.

[And for those who were wondering...yes, Mike will be sporting MU gear and his MU golf bag.]

Van Sickle signs autographs during Family Day at the U.S. Bank Championship

"A small taste of the good life ..."

Gary Van Sickle, who caddied for his son Mike Van Sickle as the former Marquette University star made his PGA debut last weekend at the John Deere Classic, wrote a column recounting Mike's first par on the PGA Tour, missed opportunities, interaction with Tour pros and a dream realized.

Check Gary's column at Golf.com: "A small taste of the good life ..."

Gary Van Sickle (left) and a young Mike Van Sickle at the driving range.

Quad-City Times Interview with Gary Van Sickle

Gary Van Sickle, the father of Mike Van Sickle and senior writer for Sports Illustrated, was featured in a Q&A by The Quad-City Times. Gary is caddying for his son this week in his PGA debut at the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill.

See "5 Questions with Gary Van Sickle" ...

The online version of the interview also has a nice photo of the two Van Sickles together on the 18th green following Mike's first round Thursday in which he shot a 1-under-par 70 at TPC Deere Run.

One of the top amateur players in the world, Van Sickle was 4-under through 11 holes Thursday and was two strokes off the lead, but bogeyed three of his last six holes

By the way, for you Twitter users, Gary (@gvansick) is providing updates from the JDC.

Van Sickle Tees Off Thursday at John Deere Classic in PGA debut

Mike Van Sickle’s childhood dream of playing in a PGA Tour event will become a reality Thursday afternoon when he takes to the 10th tee at TPC Deere Run for the first round of the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill. [Full Story]

Gary D'Amato of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wrote a column that describes Van Sickle's experiences so far this week (see "Van Sickle set to take Tour").

Van Sickle's father, Gary, also sounds off about his experience as Mike's caddy for the event in an article published earlier this week on Golf.com (see "Bag-Dad Diary: A golf writer's son makes his PGA Tour debut, with Pop as his looper")