A product of Elkins High School in Houston, Texas, Matt Van Zandt was a four-year letterman from 2005, 2007-09.
He was two-time member of Texas A&M's NCAA team, including 2009 when the Aggies won their lone national championship at The Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio. During that historic run, Van Zandt helped the Aggies place seventh in the stroke play and then tallied a draw (vs. Jesper Kennegard) in the quarterfinal upset of second-seeded Arizona State, a 1-up victory (vs. Bill Rankin) in the semifinal win over Michigan and dropped a 3&1 decision (vs. Jason Cuthbertson) in the finals victory over Arkansas.
Van Zandt also helped the Aggies to a 12th place finish at the 2008 NCAA Championships at The Kampen Course in West Lafayette, Ind.
He was also a part of regular season team victories at the 2008 Barona Collegiate Cup, the 2008 Adams Cup of Newport and the 2009 John A. Burns.
An excellent student, Van Zandt earned Academic All-America honors in 2008.
In the team's annual awards, Van Zandt received the B.K. & Jane Watson Academic Achievement Award in 2006, the Most Improved Player Award in 2008 and shared the Robert Ellis Leadership Award with Clay Hodge in 2009.
Since Graduating:
"I graduated in May 2009 and spent the summer sitting for the CPA exam. I started work in September for PricewaterhouseCoopers as an External Auditor. While there, I was part of our Private Client Services division working with private companies and organizations serving whatever needs they had for us. In fact, I even got to be part of the Texas A&M Athletics Department Audit for two years (yes… the athletic department does get audited).
"In the summer of 2011, I completely transitioned away from the world of Accounting to a join an organization that had become like family to me, College Golf Fellowship. College Golf Fellowship exists to come alongside the worlds of collegiate and professional golf to minister to them with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. My relationship with these guys was an integral part of my collegiate and post-college experience so it was a fairly easy transition.
"As of today, I still serve alongside these friends at College Golf Fellowship as we have grown from seven (when I came on staff) to 27 people across the country. Today, my coworker and I serve the collegiate golf teams in the Greater Houston area, as well as I serve as one of the chaplains on the Korn Ferry Tour (the feeder tour to the PGA Tour). I continue to get the privilege of working with the Texas A&M golf team and have enjoyed maintaining that relationship throughout the years." The Van Zandts: Matt and Kelly with daughter, Annaliese "Annie" Message to the 12th Man:
"Texas A&M is truly an amazing school. I made wonderful friends there, enjoyed my learning experiences, and considered it a great honor to represent the school athletically. I would encourage you to enjoy your time there as it goes by so fast. Try to view your time in college as an opportunity to serve more than an opportunity to be served. Take advantage of the Aggie Network as it is a real thing that will open doors for you for years to come in your personal and professional worlds. Be a great friend to people as college is a unique time to grow close with people. I loved my time in college but don't listen to people who say college is the best time of your life. I certainly hope not as the majority of your life is spent-post college. However, it sure is sweet going back to College Station. I love that place, and am grateful for my time there. I wear my ring proudly every day and I am proud to call myself a Fightin' Texas Aggie."
