Matt McQuillan

Matt McQuillan (born 19 June 1981) is a Canadian professional golfer.

His father Mark and mother Donna are members at the Garrison Golf and Curling Club in Kingston, and introduced Matt to golf there in 1991.

His father is a single-figure handicap player, and coached him for a few years.

He received instruction at Garrison first in the club's junior program from pro shop manager John Holland, and then privately from assistant professional Kevin Dickey (a former Canadian Tour player).

McQuillan won the Garrison Men's Open and the Garrison Men's Club Championship in 1996 at age 15, becoming the youngest-ever winner of both events.

He won the Club Championship again in 1998 (by 11 shots) and 1999 (by 20 shots, with a record score of 278, ten under par).

He eventually won the Garrison Open half-a-dozen times.

As McQuillan continued to improve, he earned success at higher levels, including victories in the 1999 Ontario Junior Championship at the Dalewood Golf Club in Port Hope, and in the 1999 Ontario Junior Match Play Championship.

He claimed second place at the 1999 Canadian Junior Championship at the Maple City Golf Club in Chatham, Ontario.

He was selected as Kingston's Amateur Athlete of the Year for 1999.

McQuillan represented Canada for the first time at the 2000 World Junior Team event in Japan, finishing as third individual scorer.

McQuillan graduated from La Salle Secondary School in Kingston, and earned a golf scholarship to Oklahoma State University, beginning in the fall of 2000, where he played for coach Mike Holder.

McQuillan later transferred to the University of Georgia, but left college before completing his degree.

McQuillan placed second in the 2000 Ontario Men's Amateur Championship at the National Golf Club of Canada in Woodbridge, Ontario, earning a place on the four-player Ontario Willingdon Cup team.

For a time in the mid-2000s, he represented the Cataraqui Golf and Country Club in Kingston, but no longer does so.

However, he still works with Dickey, now a teacher at Cataraqui.

McQuillan represented Canada on the 2001 Four Nations' Cup team, which emerged victorious over teams from Australia, New Zealand, and Japan; this event was held at the Lambton Golf Club in Toronto.

The six Canadian team members also included David Hearn, Jon Mills, and Lee Curry.

McQuillan advanced to the semi-finals of the 2001 Canadian Amateur Championship, finally ending his tournament run with a loss to heralded amateur Graham Cooke.

In 2002 he set the competitive course record at Garrison with a score of 9-under-par 63.

In 2002, McQuillan was the top-ranked player in Ontario entering the Ontario Amateur, but had to withdraw, suffering from mononucleosis.

He has played on the Canadian Tour since 2003, and won one tournament there.

McQuillan turned professional, and finished 7th at the 2003 Spring qualifying tournament for the Canadian Tour.

His most successful Canadian Tour result to date has been a victory at the 2005 Telus Edmonton Open, scoring 13-under-par 271 at the Edmonton Golf & Country Club, from 30 June to 3 July; McQuillan edged the runner-up, promising amateur Graham DeLaet, and won $24,000 (Canadian funds).

McQuillan played in three Nationwide Tour events in 2005, with his best finish a tie for 25th position in the Alberta Classic.

He finished runner-up at the 2006 Canadian Tour Championship.

McQuillan successfully played on the Tar Heels Tour in the Carolinas during the spring of 2008, in preparation for a return to PGA Tour qualifying in the fall of 2008.

He set a new competitive course record at Cataraqui in mid-July 2008, winning the Cataraqui Pro-Am tournament, with a score of 62, 8-under-par, breaking the previous mark by one stroke.

McQuillan received an honorary membership from Cataraqui on 21 December 2010, after he earned PGA Tour playing privileges for 2011.

McQuillan played on the EGolf Professional Tour with success early in 2010, and played well at the Seaforth Country Classic on the Canadian Tour in August 2010, finishing in 4th place.

McQuillan entered PGA Tour qualifying in the fall of 2010, beginning at first stage.

He scored 67 in the final round at first stage to advance.

He then advanced to the third and final stage of 2010 PGA Tour qualifying, by placing third at the second stage qualifying event, hosted by the Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta, California.

McQuillan earned 2011 playing privileges on the PGA Tour with a strong performance in stage three of Q-School, on his first attempt at the finals.

His best career PGA Tour finish is a tie for third in the 2011 John Deere Classic.

Matthew Justin McQuillan was born in Kingston, Ontario.

He retains exempt status on the Canadian Tour for 2011.

McQuillan worked as a bartender in Kingston to supplement his income between stints on pro golf tours.

McQuillan successfully gained PGA Tour status for the 2011 season, by finishing T16 at 11-under-par after six rounds, at final stage, hosted by the Orange County National facility near Orlando, Florida.

This was his first trip to the finals.