MU golfer Van Sickle wins Byron Nelson award

Marquette University golf standout and recent graduate Mike Van Sickle was named 2009 recipient of the Byron Nelson Award Thursday at the NCAA Division I men's golf championship.

The award, presented by the Golf Coaches Association of America, honors a graduating senior and is based on the nominee's entire collegiate academic and golf career, combined with the character and integrity that he displayed in college.

The other finalists were Pater Malnati of Missouri, Trent Peterson of South Dakota State, Cameron Tringale of Georgia Tech and Matthew Van Zandt of Texas A&M.

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 posted 24 top-five finishes in his career as a Golden Eagle and his five victories as a senior led the nation at the end of the regular season. Currently, Van Sickle leads NCAA Division I in scoring average (70.00) and birdies (165), among other statistical categories.

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 also ranked among the top 50 golfers in the nation, according to the final Golfweek / Sagarin ratings.