Q-School Set To Begin

It's that time of year again! First stage begins tomorrow at Lantana Golf Club in Dallas, Texas.

Click here to follow the scores from First Stage

Thanks for checking in, I will be in touch soon
Matt

Pictures from Golf Chronicles by Allan Henry

Gateway Players: Matt VanCleave - Images by Allan Henry

Iowa in October

Smart people don't go to Iowa in October to play golf. The Gateway Tour has made a habit of playing the biggest tournament of the year in the worst weather we see all year. My game and the Iowa weather were both miserable. The course was tough as usual with the greens beyond difficult and the weather didn't make any part of playing easier. I shot a first round 78 in windy conditions that turned out to be the best I would play in all week. The second round started after a morning rain delay and I was only able to play seven and a half holes before being pulled off the course for the day. The restart at 7:45 Friday morning was in just as pitiful weather with 46 degree temps combined with rain and wind. My second round score of 75 was a pretty solid round that could have been really good if I would have putted well at all. I am disappointed that I wasn't able to carry over the good play of the last month or two into my favorite tournament. I really wanted to highlight my year with a great week in Iowa but that wasn't the result and now I have to regroup and get ready for the Adams Tour Championship in Gulfport, Mississippi. I am confident I can regain my form and turn it around before qschool in just under a month. Thanks for checking in.
Matt

Tie for 28th in Lubbock

The tournament in Lubbock was a mix of rounds that seemed easy and rounds that felt like work. The first and third rounds were fun and everything clicked with a 69 and 66. The second and fourth rounds were definitely work and a grind with scores of 73 and 72. After making the cut exactly on the number at 2 under and in a tie for 45th I went out on the weekend with no place to go but up. The third round 6 under 66 included a closing nine of 31 to move up to a tie for 18th. The final round just never got moving in the right direction. I got off to a slow start and despite an eagle on the par 5 16th I couldn't gain much momentum. I finished the tournament at 8 under par in a tie for 28th and took home a check for $1,110, pushing this years earnings over $30,000. I felt the most important part of the week in Lubbock was getting to play all 4 rounds and have the chance to asses my game going into the Gateway Tour Championship in Iowa. I like where my game is right now and look forward to the opportunity of playing in Iowa next week. I am excited for my trip home on Thursday and can't wait to play Mozingo on Friday in the Chip Strong Memorial. I will keep you posted as things get under way in Des Moines, thanks for checking in.
Matt

Gateway Summer Ends with Tie for 8th

The Gateway Tour summer series was definitely a success. I was 6 for 6 in made cuts and earned $17,500 after a 68.17 scoring average. This week was up and down and a mix of poor stretches and a great finish in the 2nd round. After opening with a 4 under par 68 I struggled through the first 13 holes of the 2nd round and was back to 1 under for the tournament. With 5 holes to play I closed with 2 eagles and a birdie to shoot a 2 under 70 and make the cut. Heading into the final round I was at 6 under and in a tie for 11th. In the final round I hit the ball great and continued to putt very well. I didn't get everything out of the round but was pleased with a 4 under 68 and a tie for 8th worth $2,100. I am really pleased that I made all 6 cuts and really played solid golf in every tournament. It's always great to be playing your best golf heading into the fall finish. I am off to Lubbock next week for another Adams Tour event. I will keep you posted after the tournament.
Click here to check out pictures taken by Allan Henry / Golf Chronicles at recent Gateway Tour events.
Thanks for stopping by the site.
Matt

Runner Up Finish at Southern Dunes

There aren't too many weeks when shooting 19 under par isn't going to walk away with the trophy. Unfortunately, this was one of those weeks when it wasn't the winning score and it wasn't even close. Chris Kamin shot an incredible 27 under, 62-63-64. I played great all week and was able to hold on for a 1 shot cushion over 3rd place. I started the week with a solid 67 and then followed it up with a bogey free 64 in round 2. The final round was another solid round, 66, where I did everything I could to put pressure on the leader but it just wasn't good enough. I am excited that I was able to hold on for solo 2nd and take home a check for $6,500. After struggling with the putter the last few weeks I made a ton of putts at Southern Dunes. I like where my swing is right now and look forward to playing on the Gateway Tour again next week. I've had a great run of events this summer on the Gateway Tour and hope to finish strong in my last event in Arizona next week. Stay tuned for results from Tonto Verde Golf Club.
Tournament story on the Gateway Tour Website
Thanks for stopping by the site.
Matt

T18 and Missed Cut in Texas

The two week trip to Texas on the Adams Tour didn't get off to the start I was looking for. I struggled on the bermuda greens at Beaumont Country Club and just couldn't find my rhythm with the putter. I hit the ball as well as I have all year but couldn't convert it into a successful week after rounds of 70 and 74. I want to thank the Iceton family in Beaumont for hosting me and Todd Rossetti for the week, by far the best host family of the year. After a couple days of short game work in Beaumont I felt good about my game going into Horseshoe Bay. I played very solid all week in Horseshoe Bay on the extremely difficult Ram Rock Course. The cut fell at 5 over par, the highest cut in my professional career. The first three rounds were all very solid and I entered the final round 4 shots back at even par, 70-71-72. In the final round I never could get a birdie putt to drop and ended with a 4 over 75. I finished in a tie for 18th earning $1,635. I look forward to the next few weeks on the Gateway Tour in Arizona where I have had some decent success this summer. Hopefully I have worked out the kinks with the putter and will find some confidence on the familiar Arizona greens. Thanks for checking in and I will post back soon.
Matt