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6-1-09
Mike Van Sickle has been named recipient of the 2009 Byron Nelson Award presented by Cleveland Golf/Srixon, it was announced last week at the NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship by the Golf Coaches Association of America. Van Sickle, a recent Marquette University graduate, edged four other finalists for the prestigious honor.
Van Sickle, a two-time all-American who was also a unanimous selection as 2009 Big East Player of the Year, is Marquette’s all-time leader in career scoring average (71.69), tournament victories (11) and career rounds of par-or-better (86). He has posted 24 top-five finishes in his career as a Golden Eagle and his five wins this season led the nation at the end of the regular season.
A three-time Big East Academic All-Star, Van Sickle graduated in May with a 3.3 grade point average and with a degree in electronic and broadcast communications. Van Sickle was named a Cleveland Golf all-America Scholar by the GCAA in 2008 and was one of only 11 recipients who also ranked among the top 50 golfers in the nation, according to the final Golfweek/Sagarin ratings.
In addition to Van Sickle, this year’s finalists were joins Peter Malnati of Missouri, South Dakota State’s Trent Peterson, Cameron Tringale of Georgia Tech and Matthew Van Zandt of Texas A&M.
A Nelson Award candidate must be a graduating senior and the selection committee considers equally a nominee’s entire collegiate academic and golf career and his character and integrity while in college. Particular consideration will be given to a nominee's good citizenship, as portrayed by legendary golfer Byron Nelson.
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