May 25, 2007

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Marquette sophomore Mike Van Sickle (Wexford, Pa.) was named recipient of the 2006-07 Western Pennsylvania Golf Association's Frank Fuhrer III Award, presented to the area's outstanding collegiate golfer.

Van Sickle open the spring portion of the season winning his first three tournaments. With two consecutive wins in February in Florida, he was named Golfweek Magazine's Collegiate Player of the Week. He recorded six top 10 finishes, including a second place finish in the BIG EAST, made the All Conference first team, and was nationally ranked in Golfweek collegiate formula. In addition, he finished 17th at the NCAA Central Regoinals, becoming the first Marquette golfer to play in an NCAA post-season event.

Van Sickle shared this award wtih Robert Rohanna, a Penn State University junior. The Waynesburg, Pa., resident had a remarkably similar record including three wins, first team All Big-Ten and 84th in Golfweek's ranking. In 2005-06 Rohanna edged Van Sickle for the award. However, the WPGA's Championship Committee determined the margin in 2006-07 between these players was too close to call.

The award honors Frank Fuhrer, III, Pittsburgh, who was an All-ACC and All-American golfer at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill--1977-81.