Of all the accolades and awards junior golfer Mike Van Sickle has amassed in his Marquette career, he certainly brought home the most unique item from the College All-America Golf Classic last week. Invited to play in the El Paso, Texas, event, participants left with a new pair of cowboy boots.

"They took care of us down there," Van Sickle said with a laugh. "That was one of the cooler gifts I'd ever received from a tournament."

Van Sickle fired rounds of 73-68-72 to finish the individual event tied for 16th at level-par 213. With the team events over for the fall season, Van Sickle got word in late September that the invite-only tournament wanted him.

"It was great to see if I could hang around the top players in the country," he said. "It was good to meet some of the players I'll hopefully run into down the line."

To clarify, those invited often wind up playing professionally. In a field of just 31, the junior's play hit its crescendo midway through the second round as he birdied five of eight holes en route to a three-under round of 68.