United States
United States
Mike Van Sickle
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Personal
Father is veteran golf journalist Gary Van Sickle, currently a senior writer for Sports Illustrated and Golf.com. Mother, Betsy, was formerly sports information director at Marquette.
Attended Pine-Highland High School in Gibsonia, Pa.
Lettered in basketball three years in high school. Pirates' shortstop Neil Walker was a teammate.
Majored in Broadcast and Electronic Communications at Marquette.
If he plays poorly in a certain shirt or pants then they won't make the rotation for a while.
First-tee intro song would be I Love to Play - Jake Trout and the Flounders.
Earliest golf memory was playing golf with his dad at Yale GC at age five and finding a snapped-in-half Wilson driver in the waste can, "my first driver."
If not a pro golfer, would be a sportscaster.
Biggest thrill in golf was joking with Arnold Palmer on the first tee of 2009 Palmer Cup at Cherry Hills CC in Colorado.
Memorable thrill outside golf was hitting a three-pointer at the buzzer in high school to beat his school's archival.
Favorite course played is Oakmont CC (where he won the Western Pennsylvania Junior).
Other favorites include the Pittsburgh Pirates, Toronto Blue Jays and San Diego Chargers. Top TV show is "Miami Vice" and his favorite movies are "The Sting" and "Good Will Hunting." Is a big fan of Andrew McMahon and Duncan Sheik (entertainers) and likes the book, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. Favorite athlete is Neil Walker and Milwaukee and Nantucket are cities he enjoys visiting.
Best sporting event attended was the October 2014 Pirates' wild card game loss to the San Francisco Giants at PNC Park.
Dream foursome would include his dad, Harry Truman and Shooter McGavin.
Not many people know he has a pin in his left arm.
Wife works at the Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh.
Threw out the first pitch at a Milwaukee Brewers game his senior year at Marquette.
Has played almost 500 courses in 34 states.
Worked as a Little League umpire in high school and college.
Remembers getting autographs at the Sprint International in Colorado and thinking how cool it was to get to meet all those players.
Amateur Highlights
Outstanding career at Marquette was highlighted by a school-record 11 career victories, including five as a senior. Had 24 top-five finishes in 48 college events. Ranked as high as No. 4 in the R&A's World Amateur Ranking. Was a first-team All-American in
Won back-to-back Pennsylvania Open titles in 2007 and 2008.
Won the Pennsylvania Amateur and was named Pennsylvania Golf Association Player of the Year in 2008.
Was a decorated junior golfer in Pennsylvania. Ranked No. 1 in Future Collegians World Tour in 2004-05. Had four wins in six events. Was Western Pennsylvania Golf Association Player of the Year. Captained his Pine-Richland High School team to the Western

