Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from sunny Arizona. It definitely isn't a white Christmas out here in the desert. I can't wait to get home on the 28th to see snow, although I am sure I will be ready to get back to the 60 degree weather pretty quickly.
I just wanted to catch everybody up on life in Arizona. This has been a great year for Sarah and myself, we are getting ready to celebrate our first wedding anniversary at the end of the month. Sarah will be starting a new job in January as a guidance counselor at a K-8 school in Gilbert, Arizona. We just bought our first house together located 10 minutes from Sarah's school in Gilbert (just about 20 minutes south of our place in Mesa now). We are going to start moving tomorrow so things are getting a little crazy. It is amazing how blessed we have been in the last year and how God has been shaping our lives together.
I can't thank my investors enough for the opportunity you are giving me to play professional golf. We have definitely had a few ups and downs but I still feel like I am getting better every year and that much closer to the goal of the PGA Tour. I have been continuing to work on my swing with Kevin Beard. I have also started working with Rick Fehr, a former PGA Tour winner, on my mental game and course management. I really feel like with the help of these guys I can achieve my goals in golf. I am starting to figure out what my schedule will look like next year. I will post a schedule on the website in the next few weeks.
Again, thank you all so much for everything you have done for Sarah and myself. We are so lucky to have a group of supporters behind us that care as much as you do. I hope to see everybody during my trip home later this week.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from,
The Van Cleaves

2008 Plans ???

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Sorry it has been so long since I last updated my site. I have been taking some time to regroup and try and figure out what the future holds for me. I caddied for a friend of mine, Jesse Mueller, in both 1st and 2nd stage. Unfortunately, he didn't make it through second stage like a lot of great players. Q-School is a cruel and sometimes unfair test of golf. But, if you want to make it to the PGA Tour it is almost the only way to get there. I will make my peace with Q-School before I go back next year. As far as my plans for next year I am still trying to figure out what I am going to do. I have several options that I am trying to sort through. As of right now I am leaning towards the Canadian Tour with several Nationwide Tour Monday qualifiers. The Canadian Tour Q-School doesn't start until the end of March so I may have to play in a handful of Gateway Tour events in February and early March. The Canadian Tour schedule would consist of 17 events if I am successful at getting a fully exempt card at the Q-School. At this point this is looking like my best option to further my game and put myself in the best possible position to advance through PGA Tour Q-School. I will try and keep you updated as things start to fall into place for my 2008 schedule and plans. Thanks again for the continued support.
Matt

Q-School Ends Poorly

A final round 76 was a disappointing close to 1st stage. There isn't much I can say other than I didn't have it. My golf swing hasn't been there for the last month and the wheels finally came off. As good as I played earlier this year I am completely broken by a 1st stage exit at Q-School. I really felt like this year would be my best chance to get to finals and get status. I couldn't have picked a worse time to lose confidence in my swing. As good as my short game has been it still wasn't enough to make up for the rest of my game. The only bright spot of the tournament came at the 8th hole of the final round, a hole-in-one that momentarily got me back into contention. I was able to hit one perfect shot and very few other good shots all week. I will take the next few weeks to take a look at my game and where we go from here. I need to make some changes but I also need to find the positives of the last year. I don't need to completely start over but I do need to find a way to continue to get better and have a better understanding of what I am trying to do. I will also need to figure out where I will be playing next year. As soon as I start to get things put together I will let everyone know what my plans are. Thanks again for a great year. I am sorry it ended a little early but professional golf is cruel game. I will learn from this and bounce back.
Matt

T26 at Gateway Tour Championship

A chilly and windy week in Des Moines was the perfect welcome back to Midwest style golf. The Legacy Golf Club in Norwalk, Iowa was a difficult test with high rough and slick greens that borderline on crazy. I struggled the first two and a half rounds with my swing but was able to find a little confidence the last part of the tournament. I was able to find a good swing thought in the 3rd round and then work out the kinks on the range with my instructors Kevin Beard and Ben Kreger (who caddied for me this week). The final round was one of the best rounds I've played all year but a handful of putts just burned the edge to keep it from being a great round. It was nice to find some confidence during the last part of the tournament with Q-School just around the corner. I really enjoyed my time back in the Midwest and the chance to play a tournament with family and friends out supporting me. It was great to see all the familiar faces who came out to support and follow me during the tournament: Rick, Kyle, Kevin, Kathy, Mike, Drew, Jay, Marc, Don, Robbie, Zach, my Grandpa and my Parents. I really appreciate all the support and want to thank everyone for following my progress this year, it really does make a difference having a great support group. It has been a good year so far and I have the chance through Q-School to make it a great year. I will be posting again next week as I prepare for 1st stage in Lantana, Texas at Lantana Golf Club. Check back for updates and results

Matt

Next Up: Gateway Tour Championship

The season ending Tour Championship is almost here! A $400,000 purse and a winner's share of $65,000. What a great way to end the year on the Gateway Tour and get ready for Q-School. Stay tuned for further updates. All tournament coverage and results can be found on the Gateway Tour website: www.thegatewaytour.com

10th Place Finish In Arizona Open

The Arizona Open is one of my favorite tournaments of the year. I played very solid for three rounds but just couldn't put together that one low round I needed to be in contention. I hit the ball as well as I have all year and my chipping was the best its been in years. I putted solid but just burned the edge too many times to go low. I am very excited about the shape of my game going into the Tour Championship and Q-School. I am looking forward to getting back to the Midwest and playing a home game for the biggest purse of the year. Thanks again for checking in and I will be in touch before the Tour Championship Oct. 10-13.

Matt

Next Up: Arizona Open

The AT&T Arizona Open is being played this year at the Golf Club Scottsdale, September 20-22. To follow the tournament results go to: http://www.southwest.pga.com/ and click on the AZ Open logo.

Gateway Summer Series ends with T42

A disappointing finish to an otherwise great summer. I never got comfortable this week and my play was pretty uninspired. I have had my fill of desert golf for the summer and am looking forward to playing in some different conditions at the Tour Championship and Q-School. Desert golf courses all seem to play the same way and it is easy to get bored and lose focus week after week. I am very excited about the huge strides I have made in my game this year as compared to last. I am definitely a better player and feel like this is the year to move on to the next level. I will be playing my first stage of Q-School at the same site as last year in Lantana, Texas. It will be nice to get to a Q-School course knowing exactly what is ahead of me and what to expect. The Tour Championship in Des Moines at the Legacy Golf Club will be a great warm up to first stage. We will be playing for the largest purse of the year with 79 players in a four round tournament. I am excited to get to play a full tournament back in the midwest and not too far from home. I will be spending a day next week in Dallas working on my short game with Pat O'Brien, the putting instructor to this year's Masters Champion, Zach Johnson. I really think Pat will be able to help me get my short game back to being the strength of my game. A great putter will always have a place to play on the PGA Tour. Thanks for checking in and following my play this summer. It is always a great feeling to know that I've got the best support group behind me every time I tee it up. I will be in touch again soon

Matt

Solid Play Leads to Top 5 Finish

A final round 70 was good enough to jump up 4 spots to a tie for 5th and a $5,691.00 paycheck. This is the 5th Top 5 finish in the last 8 events of the summer series and was good enough to jump up to 5th on the money list. It was nice to play a course where a 2 under round of 70 was good enough to move up the leaderboard instead of getting passed by half the field. The Chiricahua course at Desert Mountain Golf Club is a tough test with thick desert rock and brush left and right of every hole. Missing grass with a shot was an instant double bogey or higher. I wasn't able to avoid making double bogeys but I did make enough birdies to offset those mistakes. I am pleased with the way my swing felt for the first time in a couple of weeks. I am looking forward to the last Gateway event next week and getting ready for the Tour Championship in Des Moines, October 10-13. The Tour Championship will have a $400,000 purse with a 1st place check of $65,000. This will be a great warm up for Q-school that will start a few weeks later.
Thanks for checking in, I will post again after the completion of next week's event. To follow the scoring, stats or to check out the money list go to: http://www.thegatewaytour.com/
Matt

Up and Down Week for T32

One great round, two solid rounds and one pretty bad round were the summary of the tournament this week. I never got comfortable with my swing and the putter was the determining factor of each round. Even during the 2nd round 64 I struggled with my ball striking but was able to manage my game and make a bunch of putts. I am not happy with the finish this week but I am encouraged that my ball striking slightly improved each round. I am going to take tomorrow off to recharge and then get back after it on Sunday. My energy levels have been pretty low this last few weeks so I need to make sure I am getting enough time away from golf to ensure I will be 100% whenever I tee it up.
I appreciate you checking in and I will be in touch again soon.
Matt

Missed Cut by 1 Shot

After struggling in round 1 at my home course, Alta Mesa Country Club, I was unable to find any magic in round 2. Two rounds at 1 under par, 70-72, was 1 shot short of having a job for the final round. I am disappointed that I missed the cut but feel good that I know what I need to work on. A couple days of hard work and confidence building should get me ready to go for the next tournament. The last 3 tournaments are all 4 day events starting next week at Whirlwind Golf Club. Thanks for checking in and I will be in touch again soon.
Matt

Final Round 65 to Finish T-3rd

For the second straight week I was able to shoot one of the lower final rounds and move up the leaderboard. After shooting a 6 under 30 on the front nine I stumbled a little on the back and wasn't able to maintain the same pace. A 7 under 65 was still a great way to finish off the tournament at 21 under. The tie for 3rd was good enough for a $6,648.00 check that moves us up to #6 on the Gateway Tour Desert Summer money list. I am very pleased with the results these last 5 events with 4 top 5 finishes and a 68.92 scoring average for the summer. I am looking forward to a week off this coming week and a chance to recharge my batteries and get some quality work in on my game. I am happy with the top 5 finishes but really want to get that first professional victory this year. I am getting closer each week and every time I can play the back nine the final day with the nerves of being in contention the better off I will be in the future. I can't wait for the final 4 events on the schedule and then the Tour Championship in Des Moines in early October. It feels great to go home after a tournament and be disappointed I didn't come away with the victory, that day can't be too far off.

Thanks for checking in, I will be in touch again in 2 weeks after the next tournament.

Matt

Final Round Jump to Top 5 Finish

A 68 on the final day was good enough to move from a tie for 21st to a tie for 5th and a $3,421 check. On a day when scores were higher than usual it was great to be able to leap most of the field and collect my 3rd top 5 finish in the last 4 events. I continued to fight my swing today but was still able to find a way to make 5 birdies and only 1 bogey. I am very pleased that I am finally learning how to score and contend on days when I don't feel 100% comfortable or confident. Last year I didn't have the ability to gut out rounds in the 60's when I wasn't playing my best. I am looking forward to a few days of hard work this weekend to get my swing back to a level I feel comfortable with. I would really like to continue to build on this recent success and continue to improve in all parts of my game. I am nowhere near the level I need to be, but I am finally starting to get the results that show I am moving in the right direction. We are playing next week at Firerock Country Club and Tonto Verde Golf Club in a 4 day event starting on Monday. I will be back in touch after the completion of the next tournament.
Thanks again for checking in
Matt

66 Comes Up Short in Nationwide Qualifier

There aren't too many days when a 66 doesn't feel like a good round. Unfortunately in Monday qualifiers a 66 doesn't always guarantee you a spot in the field. It took a 7 under 64 to get through the qualifier at the Players Club at Deer Creek. I struggled most of the day finding a swing I felt comfortable with. Luckily my short game, mostly the putter, were there to pick up the slack. A bogey free 5 under round was a good score considering my ball striking and the semi windy conditions. I am disappointed with not qualifying but pleased with the way I was able to gut out a solid number and give myself an outside shot of qualifying. I want to thank Larry and Brenda Ricks along with my uncle Rob Van Cleave for coming out to watch the action in Omaha. It was also great to have my Dad caddie for me today, it's always nice to let somebody else carry the load. Unfortunately I don't get too many home games playing on the Gateway Tour so it is always nice to get close to home for a tournament. I'm back to the Gateway Tour this week as we play Wigwam and Hillcrest in a 3 day event. Follow the scoring at the Gateway Tour website: http://www.thegatewaytour.com/

Thanks for checking in, I will be in touch later this week

Matt

2nd Place Finish at Trilogy Power Ranch

A great week that came up just 1 shot short of forcing a playoff. I am extremely proud of the way I played this week. For the first time as a professional I put together an entire tournament of good scoring. The first round 62 was a career best and a great way to start the week. A 66 and 67 to finish the tournament at 18 under par capped off my best finish as a professional. The second place check for $6,904 is also the largest check to date. I am still disappointed to come up just 1 shot short of the victory. It hurts to be that close and not come away with my first professional victory. The next time I am in that situation I will have that much more experience under my belt of being in contention coming down the back nine. I know I have what it takes to win it's just a matter of being patient and waiting for things to fall into place. I am off to Omaha this weekend for the Nationwide Omaha Cox Classic Monday qualifier. I am looking forward to testing my game at the next level. Hopefully next week will be my first chance to play in a Nationwide Tour event. Thanks again for checking in, I will be in touch soon.

Matt

Tied For Lead With 1 Round To Play

Tied for lead at 14 under par after 62-66. Final round tomorrow at 9:10 off of the 1st tee. I will check back in tomorrow after the completion of the tournament. For complete tournament coverage check out: http://www.thegatewaytour.com/

Matt

T23 Finish in Gateway Summer Event #5

After getting off to a great start Wednesday I wasn't able to maintain the solid play in the final two rounds. A 66-74-72 was good enough to tie for 23rd and a check of $1,301.33. I am a little disappointed that I wasn't able to hit the ball as well as I did in the opening round the last two days. For some reason the Trilogy at Vistancia course just doesn't set up well for my game. I never got comfortable and fought my swing both rounds I played there. I still have to look at this week as another step in the right direction. The more often I put myself near the leaders the more likely I am to win a tournament this year. I will spend the next few days working out the flaws in my swing and getting prepared for another tournament and chance to continue improving. A tie for 23rd isn't the result we are looking for but I am making improvements that will soon start to show in the results.

Thanks for checking in.

Matt

Tied For Lead Through 1st Round Of Gateway Event

For the second straight event I am off to a good start after posting a 6 under 66. I am currently tied at the top of the leaderboard with two rounds left to go. I am continuing to build on the success from the last event. I feel good about my chances of finishing on top this week. To follow the scoring check out the Gateway Tour website: www.thegatewaytour.com
Thanks again for checking in, I will be in touch soon
Matt

Top 5 Finish Despite Rough Final Round

A four over par, 76, was not the round I was looking for starting the day. I'm not sure if it was the nerves or inexperience of playing in the final pairing that lead to my poor play. I struggled all day after getting off to a terrible start, 2 over par through 3 holes. Unfortunately I was not able to make as many birdies as I had made the previous three rounds. Even with a disappointing 76 I was still able to collect my first ever top 5 on the Gateway Tour. I am frustrated with my play today but excited about the progress I made this week. I was able to cash a $5,554.75 check that is the second largest check in my professional career. I also gained some valuable experience playing in the final group and going through the emotions that come with a chance to win on the final day. The next time I am in that situation I will have a better idea of what to expect and what I need to focus on to overcome my nerves. I am making strides each week and I am getting closer to that first professional win.

Thanks again for hanging in there with me as we go through a few bumps along the way. All the struggles and frustration will be worth it the day I get my PGA Tour card. I will be back in Maryville next week as we have a week off on the Gateway Tour, I hope to see everyone then. I will be in touch soon

Matt

2 SHOTS BACK HEADING INTO FINAL ROUND

After a third round 6 under, 66, I am just two shots back of the leaders with one round to play. So far I have shot 66, 68 and 66 to sit at 14 under par. I played in the final pairing today sitting in third place alone entering the round. After all three of us in the final group shot 66 I am still 2 back and in third place alone. I am really playing well and feel great about my chances of finishing on top after tomorrow's final round. I've been saying that I'm playing well for the last few months so it's finally nice to have the scores reflect that feeling. I will be in touch again after the final round. To check out the full leaderboard go to: http://www.thegatewaytour.com/

Matt

T2 through 1 Round of 4th Gateway Summer Event

The 4th event of the Gateway Tour Summer Series is off to a solid start. A first round 66, 4 under, is just 2 shots behind the leader and in a tie for 2nd. I played very solid hitting 16 of 18 greens with 30 putts and managed to play bogey free for the round. I continued my solid ball striking and average putting. As soon as I get some momentum with the putter I think we can expect some career low numbers and high finishes. I have never felt this confident standing over the ball with every club in the bag. I can't wait for the next few rounds for more chances at getting my putter on a roll.

Last week was a solid tournament that definitely could have been much better. I played consistent golf and lacked that spark I needed to take it low in a round to vault up the leaderboard. A tie for 33rd was a tough finish but definitely a step in the right direction. My game is starting to come around and the results are not far behind.

Thanks for checking in, I will be in touch again soon.

Matt

Gateway Summer Event #3 Up Next

The Gateway Tour summer season is off to a bit of a slow start. I have played well in the first 2 events but have had trouble scoring well and missed both cuts. I need a week where I can put all aspects of my game together. So far I have hit the ball well but struggled to make enough putts to get much momentum and take it low. I am looking forward to this week's event at Pinnacle Peak Country Club and Tatum Ranch Golf Club. I played both of these courses on the summer circuit last year.
As you all know we lost a great man this fall in Chip Strong. Chip was an investor for Van Cleave Golf and continues to be one through his daughter Allison. I was lucky enough to play golf with Chip several times at several great courses and there was no one that loved the game more than he did. This fall they will be starting the Chip Strong Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit a scholarship fund and Northwest Basketball. The fund raiser will be Friday, September 21st at Mozingo Lake Golf Course. I am looking forward to coming back and playing in this great event. Please help to make this tournament a success by signing up to play and possibly becoming a sponsor for the tournament. If anyone is interested in playing contact Allison Strong or the Northwest Foundation for information. This is going to be a great opportunity to celebrate and remember Chip Strong.
Thanks again for checking in. Feel free to contact me at any time; vancleavegolf@hotmail.com.
I will be in touch again soon,
Matt

T25 in US Open Qualifying

A 72 - 76 were not good enough to finish in the top four qualifying positions for the 2007 United States Open. I got off to a great start at 3 under through the first 5 holes, unfortunately I was not able to maintain that pace and went in the opposite direction. I hit the ball well for the 36 hole one day marathon but was not able to get hot with the putter and give myself a chance down the stretch. I was very disappointed with the score but pleased with the confidence I had with my swing. It has been a long time since I was that confident with a club in my hands. Now it is just a matter of getting the ball in the hole and getting my confidence with the putter to match that of my swing. I started the first summer event of the Gateway Tour today at Talking Stick Golf Club with a very similar 2 over par 72, a good ball striking day and poor scoring. I will need a good number tomorrow to get back within shouting distance of the leaders. Professional golf is a funny game where sometimes all you need is that one small opening to propel yourself to the next level. That break and chance have got to be just around the corner.

Thanks again for checking in, I will be in touch again soon. To stay connected with the results on the Gateway Tour click on the link to the right or simply go to: www.thegatewaytour.com

Matt

T2 at Local US Open Qualifying -- Advance to Sectional Qualifying

A 3 under par 67 and a tie for 2nd place were good enough to advance through US Open local qualifying at Kansas City Country Club. A windy day and tough golf course were the perfect combination for a one day 18 hole qualifier; scores weren't going to be too low and the conditions exposed any weakness in your game. I played very solid all day with 1 eagle, 3 birdies and 2 bogeys. My days at Mozingo and Colbert Hills in the wind payed off as I was able to grind out a few tough birdies and several pars. I will now advance to the sectional qualifying for the US Open on June 4th in Murrieta, California. Sectional qualifying is a one day 36 hole marathon with a couple of passes to compete in the United States Open Championship handed out at the end of the day. I am one step closer to playing in the US Open and reaching my goals of competing against the best players in the world. There will only be a couple of qualifying positions in California so I will need to be on top of my game to advance, I am looking forward to the opportunity.

I have a few more days in Maryville before heading back to Phoenix on the 27th. I hope to see everyone in the next few days. Thanks again for checking in and I will be in touch soon.

Matt

T33 In Last Gateway Spring Series Event

Usually if you shoot 7 under for 3 rounds you feel pretty good about your score. A tie for 33rd and an $1100 check was a little bit of a disappointment. I was under par in all three rounds, 68-71-70, but was missing that one great round that would vault me up the leaderboard. I continued my solid play this week but just couldn't get any momentum in the three rounds. I hit a lot of great putts that I thought should have gone in but the golf course felt much differently. I am very pleased with the state of my game going into the US Open Qualifier at Kansas City Country Club on May 21st. This qualifer is the only event on my schedule until the summer Gateway Series starts June 5th. These last 3 events on the Gateway Tour have probably been the best stretch of golf I have played since I turned professional. I really feel that the lessons I learned last year have been paying off. Mentally I am miles ahead of where I was at this point last year. I look forward to seeing everybody back in the 'Ville while I am home the 17th through the 27th.
Thanks for checking in and I will be in touch soon
Matt

First Top 10 of 2007 in Gateway Event

After sharing the first round lead this week I was able to fight back to a tie for 7th and the first top 10 finish of the year. I played very well this week and was just one solid round short of a top 3 and even a chance to win. I have continued with the momentum I picked up last week after the second round 63. I hit the ball great all week with only a few loose swings in the second round and early in the final round. I was able to put together a solid 2 under back nine to finish the tournament moving up a few spots. I was putting this week with a SeeMore putter for the first time. I was really happy with the way I putted outside of trying to force too many putts in the second round. This is the same putting system that Zach Johnson used to win the Masters. I am excited about the direction that everything is going right now. After a tough start to the year with the USPGT going under I am just happy to have a consistent place to play. I am going to play again next week on the Gateway Tour at Hillcrest Golf Club. This will be the last event I play before US Open Qualifying at Kansas City Country Club on May 21st. I have also secured my schedule for the summer to play full time on the Gateway Tour in all 12 events and then the Tour Championship in Des Moines, Iowa the first week of October. I am excited about the improvements to both my mental and physical game. I am close to being ready to win. I just need to keep putting myself at the top of the leader board as much as possible. Next week is as good a time as any to pick up my first professional win.
Thanks for checking in, I will keep you updated as the tournament goes on next week
Matt

T10 heading into final round at Verrado

I am playing again this week on the Gateway Tour in the event at Raven @ Verrado Golf Club. After sharing the first round lead with a 5 under 67 I slipped into a tie for 10th with a 2 over 74 in round 2. This was the first time I have been leading a tournament on the Gateway Tour. I am still riding a wave of confidence from the 63 in last weeks event. I have put myself in a good position to finish strong and pick up a good finish and check. I will let you know how things finish up tomorrow night. Check out the scores on the Gateway Tour website: http://www.thegatewaytour.com/
Thanks for checking in
Matt

Second Round 63 Highlights Tournament

I learned this week why they say it is always tough to follow a great round with another good round. Tuesday was a tough day after shooting a 2 over 74 and trailing the leader by 12 shots. I left the course wandering what the difference between the guys shooting 8,9, and 10 under and myself was. I spent all day searching and questioning what it would take for me to finally break through and shoot a low round. I was really hard on myself and very frustrated with the situation. If only I had known that 24 hours later I would shoot my personal best score by 2 shots, a 9 under par 63, I might have slept a little better Tuesday night. It was one of those days where I was in the zone and every time I looked up the ball was flying right at the hole and all the putts were finding the bottom of the cup. Wednesday's round was definitely the boost in the arm that I needed. There is no feeling in golf like the one coming down the stretch knowing you have a career round going and fighting off the nerves and excitement. This was definitely the best round of golf I have ever played mentally and physically. Unfortunately, the final round saw all the putts that went in the day before just slide by the hole. I hit the ball well and felt good on the greens but I just couldn't get anything to go in. I made 1 birdie, 1 bogey and 16 pars. An even par 72 dropped me into a tie for 26th.
I really feel like this was a break through week in my professional career. I needed to know that I was capable of taking it low in a tournament. Now it is just a matter of putting myself in this situation more often. It's always easier to do something when you know you've already done it. I will be playing again on the Gateway Tour next week at the Raven at Verrado tournament. I will keep you posted before the tournament begins. Thanks for checking in.
Matt

Palm Valley Gateway Tour Event

This week I will tee it up on the Gateway Tour at Palm Valley Golf Club. Palm Valley is typically a go low birdie and eagle fest. In order to be in contention on Thursday I will have to be well under par. I have played Palm Valley several times including the 2002 Junior College National Championship. I have always liked the course and feel very comfortable playing it. I had a great week off to work on my game and improve in a few key areas. I am excited about how comfortable and confident I am going into this week. I hope to bring you all good news Thursday night of a great week. Until then you can keep up with the tournament scores at the Gateway Tour website: www.thegatewaytour.com
Thanks again for checking in, I will be in touch soon.
Matt

USPGT Postpones Entire 2007 Schedule

I received news today that the US Pro Golf Tour has postponed the entire 2007 schedule. This is the worst news that we could have received. They will not say that the tour is completely cancelled, but anything short of a miracle will result in just that. We have been told that they will continue to search for the necessary funding until all possible resources have been checked. This announcement leaves me with playing a full summer schedule on the Gateway Tour Desert Series. I will try to play in two more of the remaining spring events on the Gateway Tour before starting the summer series. The summer series will consist of 12 events with a Tour Championship to conclude the year. I will also be looking to play in a few state opens and Nationwide Monday qualifiers. I feel more comfortable and confident that my second year on the Gateway Tour will be a successful one. I know all of the courses and am familiar with what it takes to play well in the desert. I am just looking forward to putting everything behind me and playing some tournament golf. If anyone is interested in reading the full announcement from the USPGT on the postponement follow this link: http://www.usprogolftour.com/USPGT_News_Season%20Suspended.htm

I will be in touch soon,

Matt

Missed Cut at Gateway Wigwam Event

69-73 -- 142 (-2)
Cut at 140 (-4)

Back at home on the Gateway Tour

I am playing this week on the Gateway Tour. After a few weeks of rest and practice I am excited about getting back into competition. The first round of the tournament was today at the Wigwam Resort Red Course. I opened with a solid 3 under 69 to stand in a tie for 20th. I played very solid and consistent golf with 4 birdies and 1 bogey. I was pleased with my ball striking and course management. I was able to make a few good birdie putts and snuck in one 40 foot par putt to keep my round going on the 10th hole. The winds are supposed to blow tomorrow up around 20 miles per hour. I have an afternoon tee time of 12:06 off of the 10th hole. My years at Kansas State and growing up in Maryville and playing in the wind should come in handy. I am looking forward to the challenge and attempting to improve on today's round 1.

After watching the Masters this weekend I am even more excited about the journey I am on. Zach Johnson's story and career started exactly as mine has. He was a decent junior golfer without much national success. He started his professional career by putting together a partnership of investors from his home town of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Zach says the key to his success has been improving at every level. Zach's major success can do nothing but give me confidence and hope that I can achieve my goals and realize my dreams. All I can do is strive to improve each and every day and year. We are on the right track, whatever tour it is this year it will be a chance to improve.

I haven't received any important updates from the USPGT. The collective feeling is that things are not going to improve and that the tour will go bankrupt. I have already set it up to play on the summer Gateway Tour series if things do not change at the last minute. I will make the best of whatever situation I am in. I will be in touch again soon. To see the latest scores from the Gateway Tour check out the website at: http://www.thegatewaytour.com/

Thanks again for checking in,

Matt

US Pro Golf Tour Update

What started out as a great year with endless possibility has just taken an unfortunate turn. We were recently informed that the US Pro Golf Tour has lost its main sponsor and will have to cancel 4 weeks of tournaments to buy time to find more funding. The sponsor who was putting up the funding for expenses and prize money has unfortunately decided to withdraw his sponsorship of the USPGT. This is the worst possible thing that could have happened to the USPGT. The tour is not going to completely fold, instead they are going to spend the next month searching for a new sponsor and more money. I do have faith that the people behind this tour are going to do everything they can to get us back up and running by the April 26-29 event in Baton Rouge, LA. The plan is to reschedule all of the events that are postponed and continue with the rest of the schedule as planned. Unfortunately, we have no guarantees that they will have any success in finding a new sponsor. We can only hope that things work out for the best and get back to normal as quickly as possible.
As far as my future schedule I am still in the process of working out the kinks. I will fill the empty weeks by buying into two Gateway Tour events here in Phoenix. If the tour does not recover I will play the entire summer series on the Gateway Tour. I am certain that I can find tournaments to play in all year. This set back with the USPGT is a major one right now but in the long run will only be minor. I will make the best of any situation I encounter as we move forward. At the end of the day, good golf is good golf anywhere. My main goal is not to play on the USPGT or Gateway Tour. These tours are merely a stepping stone to the PGA Tour and achieving my goals on the highest level. I will do everything I can to find the best opportunities to gain experience and make money along the way. If anyone has any questions please feel free to send me an email at: vancleavegolf@hotmail.com
I would be more than happy to forward you the latest financial and tour updates that I receive from the USPGT. This is only a small hurdle in the road along the way to the PGA Tour. The tough times along the way are what build character and make the journey that much better when we make it to the top. Thanks again for checking in. I will keep everyone up to date as I find tournaments to play in and hear news on the USPGT.
Matt

Garland Firewheel Classic

Well, the first event of the 2007 US Pro Golf Tour is in the books. I have to consider it a successful week with a few could have beens along the way. I finished the tournament at one over par in a tie for 34th, earning $1,955.00. Unfortunately I stumbled a little on the weekend and lost a little ground on the field. It is always frustrating to be in a decent position on the weekend and go the wrong direction on the leader board. But, looking back I am very pleased with the way things turned out. To start out the year with a paycheck is always a good feeling. I really feel as though the lessons I learned last year are going to carry me a long way this year. I am already much more comfortable on the course and in the tournament setting. I am excited about the opportunities on the US Pro Golf Tour. The way the tournament was run and the feeling of big tour golf was amazing. The community of Garland and the USPGT staff did a great job of putting together a first class event. I can only hope that this was a sign of what is yet to come this year.
I am taking this week off to recover from a cold that I picked up while in Texas. This will also give me a great opportunity to work out the kinks in a few areas of my game that need work. I need to continue to learn to simply play golf and work on getting the ball in the hole, not work on how pretty my swing looks.
After a week off I will be back on the road to Hollister, California for the 2nd regional event on the USPGT. As soon as that tournament ends I will be flying to Tunica, Mississippi for the second $300,000 USPGT event. I learned this week that I love the travel and have the best job in the world. It is definitely going to be tough to be away from Sarah and Molly (our dog) as much as I will this year. Hopefully Sarah will make it out a few times to caddy and take care of me on the road. I am also looking forward to having my parents on the road a few times and my Dad putting up with me as my caddy.
Thanks again for checking in and the continued support. I will be in touch again before I hit the road to California.
Matt

Welcome to the new website!

March 8, 2007
Welcome to the new and improved website for VanCleave Golf. Thanks to the help from Noah Hurst, a fellow Spoofhound, we are upgrading and improving on the website. We will be working to add a few new features to the website that will allow you to better track our 2007 results. These features will be up and running in the weeks to come as we put the finishing touches on the new site.

We are about to kick off the 2007 season on the US Pro Golf Tour in Garland, Texas. The first event is one of the 10 main USPGT events with a purse of $300,000. The tournament starts next Thursday and finishes on Sunday. We will be playing at the Firewheel at Garland Bridges course. I have not played the course before but will get a chance to play practice rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday. I am excited about the opportunity to travel and play different styles of golf this year. I feel comfortable with my game and a year of experience under my belt. Last year was a tough year with plenty of chances to learn. I am looking to build off of the solid play I showed during the qualifying event a few weeks ago. This year is all about patience and acceptance. If I can go to the course every day with a patient outlook and more accepting approach, then it will be a great year. I am looking forward to the triumphs and challenges that await us in 2007. To follow the results check out the US Pro Golf Tour website by clicking on the link above, or by going to www.usprogolftour.com
Thanks again for the continued support, I can't thank all of you enough for this opportunity.
Matt