Missed By 1 at Q-School

I am struggling to come up with the words to explain the week. I shot rounds of: 69/68/73/72: -6, to miss out on moving on to second stage by 1 shot. 1 shot, I can't tell you how hard it is to sit here knowing that a single shot better was all it took to qualify. I played well this week, I did everything I could and it just wasn't good enough. I will post more when I have had a better chance to digest everything..... Well, I've had a few days and I still can't believe as well as I played that I missed it by a shot. I feel really good about the preparation and effort that I put into this year leading up to q-school. I really struggled all summer and didn't have a lot of positives to build on but I was still able to produce my best golf of the year at the right time. Unfortunately in the professional golf world you only get one shot a year, I've got just under 365 days to get ready for next year. I truly believe I am still supposed to play golf for a living and I know that I can make it to the PGA Tour. I am going to do everything I can this off season to better prepare myself for the 2009 season. I really want that first professional win next year and a taste of golf at the next level on the Nationwide or PGA Tour. I really appreciate all the support these last 3 years, it may not always look like a success but I know I am getting better and getting closer to reaching my goals. We will be in touch with everybody soon. Thanks again for all the support during an up and down year.
Matt
Matt

PGA Tour Q-School 2008

It's that time of year again! Another opportunity to improve your status and move on to the next level. I can't explain the difference between a regular tournament and q-school. Maybe it's the pressure and the feeling of tension in every player for 72 holes. Q-School is definitely a unique experience that I will never forget. This year already feels different than the last few years. I have a different sense of calm and confidence than in years past. While q-school can feel like punishment the only way to look at the next 72 holes is that it is a great opportunity to move one step closer to reaching my goals. I've had a great time this week being back at Mozingo and drawing on so many positive memories. The weather hasn't been the best but I definitely will be ready for any kind of weather in Dallas. I truly believe this is our year at q-school!
To follow all the action from McKinney click on the link below:

PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament Link

Thanks for stopping by the web page, I will be in touch soon
Matt

Strong Final 9 Holes In Louisiana T15

A final nine holes of 4 under 32 was a great way to finish the tournament in Delhi, Louisiana, 72/73/73/70: T15. I struggled to make any putts the entire tournament until that last nine holes. I hit the ball great all week and just lacked a few putts dropping early in the tournament to get some positive momentum. The Adams Tour event was a great way to prep for Q-School. I got the chance to play four rounds and live out of a hotel again. I am looking forward to a couple weeks of hard work leading up to first stage. There are a few areas of my game that I need to work on but for the most part I am very pleased with everything. My putter has been holding me back in the last few tournaments but I trust that it will come around by the time I get to Dallas. I will be spending the week before first stage in Maryville getting my game ready. I think a little time at Mozingo and St. Joe Country Club will be a perfect way to get ready. Thanks for checking in and I will be in touch before Q-School begins.
Matt

T14 in Missouri Open

It was another up and down week at the Missouri Open in Columbia, 75/70: +1. I felt great about my swing and chipping but my putter let me down as I never got comfortable on the speedy and sloping greens at Old Hawthorne. It was great to have another solid ball striking week but even better to have another great week chipping around the greens. My chipping and putting are the key to my success at q-school. I'm not worried about an off week with the putter, I know this part of my game will be there at q-school. It was great to get the chance to play back in the midwest but now I am off to Louisiana to tee it up on the Adams Tour. I will be playing in Delhi, LA the 2nd through the 5th. I look forward to another opportunity to play in a new situation on a different tour and course style. These opportunities to change and challenge my comfort levels will pay off in getting my game ready for q-school. To follow all the action from the Adams Tour click on the link below:

Adams Golf Louisiana Tournament Link

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

Finishing Strong In Final Gateway Event

It was nice to finally have a solid tournment for 54 holes, 8 under par T25. The first round was an up and down round where I fought my way back to even par a few times. The second round was as good of a round as I have played this summer. I had seven birdies with two bogeys for a 5 under 67. The final round got off to a great start with three birdeis in the first five holes. I stumbled a little in the middle of the round but fought back on the last nine holes finishing the tournament with back to back birdies. It was great to finish strong and feel good about a tournament. I feel great about my game and the direction it is moving. At this point I definitely feel like my game will peak at Q-School.
I will be heading to Kentucky next weekend for the Ryder Cup, thanks to the Blackford family. After Kentucky I will be flying back to Missouri to spend a little time at home before driving to Columbia to play in the Missouri Open at the Old Hawthorne Club. I am excited to get back in the state and play a professional tournament. Hopefully I will see several of you while I am back at home. Thanks again for checking in, I will keep you posted after the Missouri Open. Click on the link below to follow all the action from Columbia Septmeber 26-27.

Missouri Open Link

Have a great one,
Matt

Made Cut, Poor Final Round

It was nice to finally make a cut but it was frustrating to finish as poorly as I did, 67/72/77. The first round I played very solid and finally started to make some putts. The second and third round I hit the ball pretty well and putted well at times but just wasn't sharp enough to go low. I feel good about my game and direction it is moving. I am still struggling to match my score with what I feel my abilities are. I am excited about this weekend as I am heading to Dallas to work with my short game instructor Pat O'Brien. Pat was able to get my short game in great form last fall so I am hopeful he can get my chipping back on track leading into q-school. I am going to need a win or second place finish in next weeks final summer event to qualify for the tour championship in Iowa. As long as I have a chance to qualify I going to be optimistic. I am playing well enough to win, I just need to put together a complete tournament next week. Thanks for checking in, I will be in touch soon.
Matt

Missed Cut By 2 Shots

I am at a loss for words about this weeks tournament, 73/68 : -3. I really don't know what to say other than I know I am close to playing great golf. I am working as hard as I can and doing everything I can to get better. I just can't get things to fall into place and get my score to reflect the quality of golf I am playing. I have never played this well and felt this good about my game and still struggled to get results. I am frustrated with the end result right now but am excited about all the positives I see in every area of my game. I will continue to work hard and do the things I know it takes to get better. Hopefully the results will start to match the effort. Thanks for the patience, I know mine is being tested like never before.
Matt

"The road to success leads through the valley of humility, and the path is up the ladder of patience and across the wide barren plains of perseverance. As yet, no short cut has been discovered."
--Joseph. J. Lamb
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Missed Cut By 1, Again

Sometimes you get on the wrong side of momentum and no matter what you do you can't change it. I've been on that wrong side since the end of May. It was another week with a solid start after a 3 under 69. I left a few shots out there but for the most part was very pleased with my round. The second round got off to a bad start and I never was able to fully recover with a 1 over 72. Again I missed the cut by 1 shot, which seems to be the story of the summer series to this point. I saw some positive things in my game that were encouraging. I am excited about the direction my swing is heading and a few of the shots I hit this week. My short game is continuing to get better and I am finally excited about it again. My ability to sign a scorecard that says a low number or consectutive solid rounds remains non existent. I've been beat up pretty good this summer by the desert and all I can hope for is a great finish to the year at q-school. Somehow I still feel confident that my game is improving. Lets just hope all these bumps in the road lead to a cool story at the end of the year.
Matt

10th Place in Des Moines

I had a great trip up to Des Moines this weekend. After a rough start, 4 over through the first 10 holes, I played bogey free golf for the final 44 holes. I believe this is the first time I have ever put together two or more rounds of consecutive bogey free golf. My golf swing isn't exactly where I want it but I now know what direction I am trying to go with it. I have a few minor mechanical changes to make in order to get my swing back to where I want it. My short game was very solid and I was a few burned edges with putts from really having a great week. Unfortunately the Herman Sani is a small purse, with a small entry fee, so i don't think my paycheck will be much more than a few hundred dollars. This week was more about finding my game and getting excited about the direction things are going. I definitely accomplished both of those goals with Kevin Beard's help. For final Herman Sani results click the following link:

Herman Sani Results Link

Thanks for checking in, I will post again after the next Gateway Tour event August 20-22.
Matt

No Monday Success

A 2 over par 73 wasn't the round I was looking for at the Nationwide Qualifier in Wichita. I never got comfortable with my swing and in a one round qualifier you have to come out firing. I will now be playing in the Herman Sani Golf Tournament in Des Moines this Friday through Sunday. I am looking forward to spending some time with Kevin Beard and getting the opportunity to play another tournament in the midwest. I will keep you posted after the completion of the tournament. Thanks for checking in
Matt

T33 in Summer Event #7

It was another week of ups and downs on the golf course. A T33 after rounds of 69/69/74, worth $1,275.00. I took some major steps forward with my game but still haven't been able to put it all together. I have really taken some major strides towards getting my game back and progressing to the next level. Mentally I feel as good as I have in a long time. I still have a few issues to work out but overall things are definitely looking up. I am excited about the process of fighting to get my game back. I will be playing in the Nationwide Monday qualifier in Wichita this coming Monday. I am looking forward to the chance to play back in the midwest and work on my game with Kevin Beard. I will keep you posted after the qualifier. Thanks for stopping by the site
Matt

Another Missed Cut By 1 Shot

It was an interesting week on the golf course. I am still fighting the rib injury but it is slowly getting better. I opened the tournament with a 2 over 74. The second round was much better with a 5 under 67. I was very pleased with my play in the second round. I was a few burned edges with putts on the back nine from really having a great day. Unfortunately my first round put me too far back and I still missed the cut at 3 under for the tournament. I never enjoy missing cuts but it is even worse when you miss by a single shot. I am looking forward to a week and a half break before my next event. I need the time to rest my injury and get back to playing pain free golf. I will still be able to work on my short game with putting and short chip shots. I probably won't hit a full shot for at least a week. I am looking forward to the second half of the summer. I have a lot of room for improvement over the next few months. Thanks for checking in
Matt

T33 in 5th Desert Summer Event

It was a good but tough week on the golf course. I shot rounds of 71, 70, 75 to finish in a tie for 33rd. In my preparation for the tournament after a week off I managed to injure my left shoulder. As I have been told by my chiropractor, Kevan Evans, I had two ribs that were out of place. After a couple of sessions with Kevan the ribs feel better and I plan on playing this week. I am not completely pain free but I feel better than I did in the final round last week. Hopefully my body will hold up and I will have a chance to continue improving and possibly qualify for next weeks mid summer tour championship in Dallas. I need to be in 36th on the money list to qualify, I am currently in 51st about $3000 back. I will keep everybody updated after the completion of the tournament. I know its been a tough summer so far but I truly am excited about playing golf again. I have had my ups and downs this year but I am on my way back up. Thanks for stopping by the site
Matt

The Struggle Continues

Another week of poor golf and another missed cut. My ball striking was good at times and also pretty bad at times. I am making too many big mistakes to play good golf right now. I'm not sure what the answer to this problem is. Things just aren't clicking on the golf course. This is as frustrated as I have ever been with golf. Hopefully a week off and some time away from the course will help get me back on track. Thanks for stopping by the site.
Matt

Missed Cut

Another tough week on the golf course. I never felt comfortable with my swing and the few times I did hit good shots I couldn't convert the putts. I managed to grind out a 71 in the first round but wasn't as fortunate in the second round with a 76. It is very frustrating to miss cuts but even more frustrating that I am a long way from being in contention. Hopefully I will be able to find a swing and put together a solid tournament next week. Thanks for checking in.
Matt

44th in Second Desert Summer Event

The week started on a strong note with a bogey free 3 under 67. The second round was a bit of a struggle but I managed to shoot an ever par round of 71 and make the cut on the number. The final round, a 3 over 73, was a big struggle for most of the round but ended strong. I feel very good about the direction my game is heading. I am disappointed to finish 44th and only cash $800, but it was a step in the right direction. As I continue to learn and grow more comfortable with my swing I look forward to much stronger finishes. I am looking forward to the next few days and the chance to continue working on my swing and short game. I am looking forward to playing the next few tournaments as the courses are some of my favorites in the valley. I will update the website after the completion of next weeks event.
Happy Father's Day
Matt

Missed Cut in Desert Event #1

Another tough week on the Gateway Tour. I struggled with rounds of 76 and 73 to miss the cut by 3 shots. I am trying to work through a bit of a funk with my game right now. I really need to find my passion for the game again. It is hard to really get everything out of your game when you feel like something is missing. My physical abilities are as good as they have ever been. I just need to put the mental and spiritual side of the game back in order. I can promise you that I will do everything I can to sort out this low point. Professional golf is a tough mental challenge that only gives you little glimpses of success every now and then. If you don't enjoy the little victories in each day and round the entire load of negatives eventually falls on you. It may take baby steps to get back but my goal needs to remain to improve and get a little better each day. My goal is still to be a great player on the PGA Tour. This time I have on the Gateway Tour is my opportunity to learn and prove to myself I have what it takes to be great. Thanks again for the support and patience.
Matt

Missed Cut By 1 In Dallas

It was an interesting week for the first event on the Dallas/Fort Worth Gateway Summer Series. Coming off the dissapointing finish in Florida I was looking forward to getting back on the course. Unfortunately do to a massive thunderstorm on Tuesday I wasn't able to play a practice round. I wasn't as comfortable on the course during the first round as I would have liked to be. I continued to hit the ball great for both rounds but lacked comfort with the course and a lot of good putts that wouldn't drop. Hopefully I can continue to carry my good ball striking over to the first Desert Summer Event next week at McCormick Ranch Golf Club. Thanks for checking in, I will be in touch soon
Matt

Heartbreak in Florida

Going into the week I probably would have accepted a top ten finish at the Tour Championship. Unfortunately I had a great chance to win and collapsed on the back nine. I was leading the tournament with 10 holes to play and playing some of the best golf of my life. The course was extremely difficult with hazards left and right on almost every shot. I navigated my way through the hazards without a mistake for the first 63 holes. The last 9 holes however weren't so kind. I pulled a hybrid into a pond going for the par 5 10th hole with my second shot that lead to a double bogey. I then blocked two consecutive tee shots out of bounds on the par 5 13th hole that lead to a devastating 9. I really don't know what to say about the collapse other than it happens. I played great to give myself a chance for the win on the back nine and didn't come through. Hopefully I can store this one away in the learning experience category and take away how well I played the first 3 and a half rounds. The more times I can knock on the door of a victory the closer it gets to becoming a reality. I had a great opportunity to learn from playing in the final pairing the last 2 rounds and sleeping on the 36 hole lead. It was fun to be in contention again, even if it didn't go our way this time.
I am now in Dallas getting ready to play in the first Dallas/Fort Worth Gateway Tour event that begins tomorrow. I will update the site after I get back to Arizona Friday night. Thanks again for checking in and I will be in touch soon
Matt

Spring Season Ends With Made Cut

It was a rather forgettable week at the Golf Club of Estrella. I never got comfortable on the greens and the frustration kept building the entire tournament. I hit a lot of good putts that had a chance and then would dart across the hole at the last second. My swing continued to feel comfortable and I was able to hit a few shots that I didn't have earlier this year. My short game was the exciting part of the week. I didn't miss an up and down chipping the entire tournament. I haven't accomplished that in several years, it feels great to have that part of the game back.

I am looking forward to a relaxing week off before I jet off for a two week tournament trip. I will first be flying to West Palm Beach, Florida for US Open Qualifying and the Gateway Tour Spring Series Championship. I will then fly from Florida to Dallas to play in the first Gateway Dallas/Fort Worth Summer Series event. I am excited to get the opportunity to take my game on the road and test myself out of the desert. I am continuing to build on my game and get better each passing week. I am looking forward to the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead in the next weeks and months. Thanks for checking in on the website. I hope everyone is having a great spring. I will be in touch soon with updates from Florida.
Matt

Final Round 65

This week was a roller coaster. I played solid for the first 32 holes of the tournament and then finished the second round with a bogey and double bogey on 15 and 17. I left the course thinking I had missed the cut because of my finish only to find out later I snuck in on the number. The final round was one of the best rounds I have played since my hot stretch last summer. A bogey free 7 under 65 was good enough to move from a tie for 48th to a tie for 17th and a much better check. I hit the ball well but the putter was the difference today. I had just 24 putts in the final round. It really feels good to finally finish off a good round and post my best score of 2008. Hopefully this round will be a springboard to great things the rest of the year. We will be back in action next week at the Golf Club of Estrella. I will keep you posted after the end of the tournament. Thanks for stopping by the site and have a great weekend.

Matt

First Top 10 of 2008

I am continuing to build and improve on my game each week. I am pleased to get my first top 10 of the year and put together a little better paycheck. The tournament was a mix of hot stretches, cold stretches and solid pars. I got off to great starts all three days and then let the rounds get away from me in the middle. In both the 2nd and 3rd rounds I was able to make late birdies to salvage under par rounds. I am happy with the improvement in all areas of my game. My chipping and pitching still needs to improve but I have full confidence I will put in the time to get it back to where it needs to be. I am still improving each week and that is what excites me about this year. I will spend the next few days recharging and working on my short game. I will keep you posted after next weeks tournament at Trilogy Vistancia Golf Club. Thanks for checking in.
Matt

Up and Down Week for T32

After the frustration of last week I was pleased to turn things around and make the cut this week. I played solid and steady golf for the first two rounds. The final round was a struggle of battling the wind and never finding my touch with the putter. I am pleased to see the hard work I put in after missing the cut pay off. I was able to make the necessary corrections in my game to get back to playing solid golf. This year has been a learning experience that should pay off with good success later in the year. I am looking forward to a week off and the chance to continue building on my game. I am getting closer to where I want to be, it is just a matter of time and trust.

Thanks for stopping by vancleavegolf.com

Matt

Missed Cut

Unfortunately it was a bad week on the golf course. I never got anything going and was constantly fighting to make up for poor shots and bad holes. The first round I did a great job of fighting back to finish at even par and not let the round get away from me. The second round was the opposite. I got off to a bad start and never recovered on my way to an 8 over par 80. I will take the next few days to regroup and work out the kinks. I am extremely frustrated with my game right now. I need to find the confidence I had last summer. I will work as hard as I can to make sure I show up next week ready to win.
We start a day early next week with a Tuesday through Thursday event. I will update the site again next week after the tournament. Thanks for your patience and support.
Matt

Website Update

I have had the opportunity to put a little work in on the website. I have added a few new features to the site:
1. Matt's 2008 Tournament Schedule - Check out this link to see my 2008 calendar. I will continue to update this calendar as my schedule fills up! ----->
2. Matt's Gateway Tour Page - This is a direct link to my Results, Stats, and Bio page on the Gateway Tour website. ----->
3. I have updated the comments section of the website. To leave a comment after a Post simply click on the "Comments" under the post near the time and date information. The instructions for how to leave your comments are then located in the upper right hand corner of the comments page.

I hope you enjoy the site and it helps keep you up to date with the latest news from Van Cleave Golf, LLC. Thanks again for the continued support. I hope everybody has a great week
Matt

Final Round 66 to Finish T19

With rounds of 71/69/66 I was able to make a jump from making the cut on the number to a top 20 finish. I played solid golf the first two rounds but lacked momentum to really go low and keep pace with the low scores. The final round was a great mix of ball striking and a hot putter. I finally had several good looks at birdie and was able to capitalize with the putts. I am excited to finally get a low round under my belt in 2008, I knew I was close to putting it all together but just hadn't managed to do it. I am looking forward to the next few days to get some much needed chipping practice in. Right now that is the only part of my game that I feel is holding me back, the rest of it is right where it needs to be to keep improving. My goal each week is to steadily improve and get more and more comfortable with my game. We start back up again next week at the Wigwam Golf Club. I will be in touch again after the tournament ends. Thanks for stopping by the site.

Have a great week.

Matt

T32 in Spring Season Opener

I played a mix of good, solid and poor golf this week. I played decent golf the first two rounds to sneak in and make the cut on the number. I am happy with my performance today to move up the leaderboard and cash a little bigger check. I was a few missed birdie putts away from a great round and really moving up the leaderboard. My full swing is in a good place and now I just need my short game to get back to being my strength. I am looking forward to playing again next week and continuing to build on my early momentum. Thanks for checking in on the website. We will be in action again next Wednesday through Friday at Hillcrest Golf Club. I will be in touch after the event.

Matt

Spring Season Set To Begin This Week

The Gateway Tour's Desert Spring Series is set to begin this week at Power Ranch Golf Course. All of the spring events will be 3 day tournaments run Wednesday to Friday. I am looking forward to getting back into the routine of playing on a weekly basis. I have been encouraged by my play early this year. I have a great team in place this year with Kevin Beard and Rick Fehr. These two guys have really put in some quality time with me this off season to get my game to the next level. I am excited to see where my game takes me in 2008. For all tournament coverage log on to: http://www.thegatewaytour.com/

Thanks for stopping by and I will be in touch soon,

Matt

T16 Finish at Vista Verde

A final round 72 was good enough to move up the leaderboard 8 spots into a tie for 16th. The course was playing difficult with firm greens and tricky pin placements. I was happy with my game this week but also found areas that need some work before the spring series gets going in March. I am looking forward to the opportunity to tee it up on a regular basis this spring. The spring series is 7 regular events with a tour championship at the end of the series in West Palm Beach, Florida. I will have a few weeks now to continue to polish my game and get into better tournament form.
Thanks for stopping by the site, I will be in touch in a few weeks.
Matt

T24 Heading Into Final Round

For complete tournament results log onto: http://www.thegatewaytour.com/
I will post more tomorrow night after the final round. Thanks for checking in.

Matt

T16 Not Enough In Qualifier

A 1 under par 70 wasn't good enough to advance through the pre qualifying stage of the FBR Open. Another good ball striking day with a cold putter left me 3 shots off the number. I am still planning my next few events. I will most likely be buying into another Gateway Winter Series event and possibly a trip to Florida or Texas for a few more tournaments. The Gateway Spring Series starts up March 19th. I will spend the next month and a half working on my game and gearing up for the 2008 season.
Thanks again for all the support, I look forward to a great 2008.
Matt

T34 In Season Opener

It was great to finally get back into competitive golf after a few month break. After the opening nine holes the first round I felt like I was back in mid-season form. I hit the ball as well as I have in a long time this week. I really struggled on the greens which kept me from going low or getting near the leaders. For the first event of 2008 I am very pleased with my game. This week was the first time I have played a tournament and felt comfortable with my mechanics in a long time. Kevin Beard and I put in some good work last week in getting ready for the season. I feel great about my swing and now I need to continue to work on the mental side of the game. I will be teeing it up again tomorrow in the PGA Tour's FBR Open pre qualifier. If I can advance through the pre qualifier I would play again on Monday in the official qualifier to get into the event that begins next Thursday. I am looking forward to more opportunities to get on the course and test my game. I will post tomorrow night after the pre qualifier is complete.
Thanks for checking in,
Matt

2008 Season To Begin Next Week

The 2008 Season will officially get started next week with the Gateway Tour event at Longbow Golf Club. I plan on playing in a few more winter series events on the Gateway Tour before buying into the Desert Spring Series. At this point I am going to play a majority of my golf on the Gateway Desert Series in 2008. Unlike the last few years I will do more traveling to play in events outside of Arizona. I feel like the opportunity to travel and play in different settings and conditions will better prepare me for Q-School next fall. I will keep you posted as the tournament gets started next week.
Thanks for stopping by,

Matt