Matt McQuillan
Encyclopedia
Matt McQuillan is a Canadian
professional golfer
. He has played on the Canadian Professional Golf Tour
for several seasons, since 2003, and won one tournament there. 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 PGA Tour finish so far is a tie for third in the 2011 John Deere Classic
.
, Ontario
. 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. Father Mark is a single-figure handicap player, and coached son Matt for a few years. Matt 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), and improved rapidly.
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.
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. 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, McQuillan was the top-ranked player in Ontario entering the Ontario Amateur, but had to withdraw, suffering from mononucleosis
.
, 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
. 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 received an honourary membership from Cataraqui on December 21, 2010, after he earned PGA Tour playing privileges for 2011.
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 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. 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.
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 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.
in Honolulu, the first PGA Tour event of his career. He survived the 36-hole cut with rounds of 68-69, then finishing on the 36-hole final day (caused by a rainout on the scheduled first round day) with 71-74 for 282 and 55th place, winning $12,705. McQuillan earned last-minute entry to the Bob Hope Classic in Palm Springs
, shot a first-round 7-under-par 65 which included seven birdies and an eagle, but followed up with rounds of 76-73-77 to miss the fourth-round cut with a score of 3-over-par 291. At the Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego, McQuillan struggled with rounds of 74-77 to miss the halfway cut with a score of 7-over-par 151. McQuillan scored 76-76-68 for 6-over-par 220 in the AT&T National Pro-Am, missing the 54-hole cut. McQuillan shot rounds of 76-73 at the Mayakoba Golf Classic near Cancun, Mexico, missing the 36-hole cut. McQuillan scored 71-74 at the 2011 Puerto Rico Open
, held just east of San Juan, Puerto Rico
, to miss the 36-hole cut by one stroke.
After playing on the PGA Tour for ten weeks in 2011, making just one cut in six events, McQuillan said the course setups he had been facing were much tougher than anything he had seen before, but added that he was settling into life on the Tour, and anticipated an improvement in his performance as he gained experience. McQuillan dropped down to the Nationwide Tour for his next event, the Louisiana Classic. After opening with 70-66 to move into contention, he struggled on the weekend with rounds of 76 and 73 to finish at one-over-par 285, tied for 62nd place, earning $1,463. McQuillan's struggles continued at the Valero Texas Open
, where he missed the 36-hole cut after rounds of 82-75. McQuillan shot 78-77 at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans
to miss the cut by 12 strokes. McQuillan played the Nationwide Tour's Stadion Classic at UGA on his former home course in Athens, Georgia
, but missed the 36-hole cut by three strokes with scores of 71-76. His next event was the HP Byron Nelson Championship near Dallas, where his scores of 73-73 missed the 36-hole cut by three strokes. McQuillan played the Nationwide Tour's Maryland
event, the Melwood Prince George's County Open
, and missed the cut by two shots with scores of 72-71. He shot 70-73 to miss the 36-hole cut by one stroke at the FedEx St. Jude Classic near Memphis. Although he missed another cut, by four strokes, at the Travelers Championship near Hartford with scores of 73-67, his second round was his first under 70 on the PGA Tour since Pebble Beach, four months before.
, in Silvis, Illinois
. He opened with 64 to tie for second place, one stroke out of the lead. He made the halfway cut comfortably with a second-round 69, then played well on the weekend with rounds of 70-64, finishing with 17-under-par 267, to tie for third place, winning $261,000. His three eagles led the field. His position on the Official World Golf Ranking jumped to #506. McQuillan continued his good play at the Viking Classic, near Jackson, Mississippi
, where he scored 72-65-71-67, for 13-under-par 275, to tie for 34th place, winning $18,990. McQuillan made his third straight cut at the RBC Canadian Open, held over the Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club
in Vancouver
, scoring 68-73-74-70 for 5-over-par 285, tied for 31st place, and winning $33,800. McQuillan saw his streak of three straight made cuts end at the 2011 Greenbrier Classic
, where his scores of 71-74 missed the 36-hole cut by four strokes. McQuillan tied for sixth place at the 2011 Reno-Tahoe Open with scores of 71-69-71-66 for a 277 total, 11-under-par, winning $97,125.
McQuillan's scores of 69-70 at the Wyndham Championship missed the halfway cut by two strokes, and he failed to make the top 125 point scorers for the FedEx Cup, missing the four playoff events. McQuillan made seven cuts in 21 events and ended the season 137th on the money list.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional golfer
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
. He has played on the Canadian Professional Golf Tour
Canadian Professional Golf Tour
The Canadian Professional Golf Tour is a men's professional golf tour headquartered in Oakville, Ontario. It was formally started in 1970 and was initially known as the Peter Jackson Tour....
for several seasons, since 2003, and won one tournament there. McQuillan earned 2011 playing privileges on the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
with a strong performance in stage three of Q-School, on his first attempt at the finals. His best PGA Tour finish so far is a tie for third in the 2011 John Deere Classic
John Deere Classic
The John Deere Classic is an American professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour. It is played annually in July, the week before the British Open, at the TPC at Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois....
.
Early years
Matthew Justin McQuillan was born in KingstonKingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. His father Mark and mother Donna are members at the Garrison Golf and Curling Club
Garrison Golf and Curling Club
Garrison Golf & Curling Club is a golf and curling club, located within CFB Kingston in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.Garrison is a private club, primarily for the use of Canadian Forces personnel and Canadian Department of National Defence employees, although civilians are also eligible to join.The...
in Kingston, and introduced Matt to golf there in 1991. Father Mark is a single-figure handicap player, and coached son Matt for a few years. Matt 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), and improved rapidly.
Junior successes
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. In 2002 he set the competitive course record at Garrison with a score of 9-under-par 63.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
Port Hope, Ontario
Port Hope is a municipality in Southern Ontario, Canada, about east of Toronto and about west of Kingston. It is located at the mouth of the Ganaraska River on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in the west end of Northumberland County...
, 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
Chatham, Ontario
Chatham is the largest community in the municipality of Chatham-Kent, Ontario. Formerly serving as the seat of Kent County, the governments of the former city of Chatham, the county of Kent, and its townships were merged into one entity known as the Municipality of Chatham-Kent in 1998.Located on...
. He was selected as Kingston's Amateur Athlete of the Year for 1999.
McQuillan represented Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
for the first time at the 2000 World Junior Team event in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, finishing as third individual scorer.
College and amateur golf
McQuillan graduated from La Salle Secondary SchoolLa Salle Secondary School
La Salle Secondary School is a high school located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. La Salle is a medium-sized school, consisting of an average student count of 700. The school schedule is composed of four courses and MSIP...
in Kingston, and earned a golf scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
to Oklahoma State University, beginning in the fall of 2000, where he played for coach Mike Holder
Mike Holder
Mike Holder is the current athletic director for Oklahoma State University, succeeding Harry Birdwell on September 16, 2005. His previous position was head coach of the men's golf program, where he served for 32 years....
. McQuillan later transferred to the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
, 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
Woodbridge, Ontario
Woodbridge is a large suburban community in the City of Vaughan, just north of Toronto in Southern Ontario. It was once an independent town before being amalgamated with nearby communities to form the city in 1971. Its traditional downtown core is the Woodbridge Ave...
, earning a place on the four-player Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
Willingdon Cup
Willingdon Cup
The Willingdon Cup is an annual amateur golf team competition among Canada's provinces.-History:The Governor General of Canada, Lord Willingdon, donated the cup to Golf Canada in 1927, for annual rivalry among men's amateur teams from the provinces of Canada...
team. McQuillan represented Canada on the 2001 Four Nations' Cup team, which emerged victorious over teams from Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
; this event was held at the Lambton Golf Club
Lambton Golf Club
Lambton Golf and Country Club is a private golf and tennis club in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Club is located in the eastern banks of the Humber River, west of Jane Street. It was established in 1902, designed by George Cumming, with input from George Lyon, who became its best-known member...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. The six Canadian team members also included David Hearn, Jon Mills
Jon Mills
Jon Mills is a Canadian professional golfer.Mills was born in Oshawa, Ontario, and spent most of his childhood in Belleville, Ontario. He developed his competitive game on the St. Lawrence Junior Tour in southeastern Ontario, and won the Ontario Junior Championship in 1996...
, and Lee Curry. McQuillan advanced to the semi-finals of the 2001 Canadian Amateur Championship
Canadian Amateur Championship
The Canadian Amateur Championship, begun in 1895, is the men's amateur golf championship of Canada. It is staged annually by the Royal Canadian Golf Association. It was played at match play until 1968, went to stroke play beginning in 1969, and reverted to match play in 1995...
, finally ending his tournament run with a loss to heralded amateur Graham Cooke. In 2002, McQuillan was the top-ranked player in Ontario entering the Ontario Amateur, but had to withdraw, suffering from mononucleosis
Mononucleosis
Mononucleosis , is a disease most commonly caused by the Epstein-Barr virus . The EBV virus affects the lymphocytes- white blood cells that battle infections by attacking antibodies. Mononucleosis can also be caused by Cytomegalovirus , a herpes virus most commonly found in body fluids...
.
Professional career
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 DeLaetGraham DeLaet
Graham DeLaet is a Canadian professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour, the Canadian Tour and the Sunshine Tour.-Early life:...
, and won $24,000 (Canadian funds). McQuillan played in three Nationwide Tour
Nationwide Tour
The Nationwide Tour is the developmental tour for the U.S.-based PGA Tour, and features professional golfers who have either failed to score well enough at that level's Qualifying School to earn their PGA Tour card, or who have done so but then failed to win enough money to stay at that level...
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
Canadian Tour Championship
The Canadian Tour Championship is an annual golf tournament played on the Canadian Tour. It is generally the last tournament played of the season, and in 2011 had a purse of C$200,000.-Winners:Canadian Tour Championship*2011 Stuart Anderson...
. For a time in the mid-2000s, he represented the Cataraqui Golf and Country Club
Cataraqui Golf and Country Club
Cataraqui Golf and Country Club is a private golf and curling club located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. It was founded in 1917.-Early golf in Kingston:...
in Kingston, but no longer does so. However, he still works with Dickey, now a teacher at Cataraqui. McQuillan received an honourary membership from Cataraqui on December 21, 2010, after he earned PGA Tour playing privileges for 2011.
McQuillan successfully played on the Tar Heels Tour in the Carolinas during the spring of 2008, in preparation for a return to PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
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 played on the EGolf Professional Tour with success early in 2010, and played well at the Seaforth Country Classic
Seaforth Country Classic
The Seaforth Country Classic is a golf tournament on the Canadian Tour. Since the tournament's founding in 2008, it has been played at the Seaforth Golf Club in Seaforth, Ontario.-Winners:Seaforth Country Classic*2011 Brian Unk...
on the Canadian Tour in August 2010, finishing in 4th place. He retains exempt status on the Canadian Tour for 2011. McQuillan worked as a bartender
Bartender
A bartender is a person who serves beverages behind a counter in a bar, pub, tavern, or similar establishment. A bartender, in short, "tends the bar". The term barkeeper may carry a connotation of being the bar's owner...
in Kingston to supplement his income between stints on pro golf tours.
Qualifies for PGA Tour
McQuillan entered PGA TourPGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
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
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
qualifying, by placing third at the second stage qualifying event, hosted by the Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta, California
Murrieta, California
Murrieta has a Mediterranean climate or Dry-Summer Subtropical . Murrieta has plenty of sunshine throughout the year, with an average of 263 sunshine days and 35 days with measurable precipitation annually....
. 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
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
. This was his first trip to the finals.
2011 PGA Tour
McQuillan made his 2011 debut at the Sony Open in HawaiiSony Open in Hawaii
The Sony Open in Hawaii is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour, and is part of the tour's FedEx Cup Series. It has been contested at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Hawaii since the event's modern-day inception as the Hawaiian Open in 1965. Starting in 1971, the tournament was held...
in Honolulu, the first PGA Tour event of his career. He survived the 36-hole cut with rounds of 68-69, then finishing on the 36-hole final day (caused by a rainout on the scheduled first round day) with 71-74 for 282 and 55th place, winning $12,705. McQuillan earned last-minute entry to the Bob Hope Classic in Palm Springs
Palm Springs
Palm Springs is a desert city in CaliforniaPalm Springs may also refer to:* Palm Springs, Florida* Palm Springs, Hong Kong, a residential development in Yuen Long, Hong Kong* Coachella Valley, also known as the Palm Springs area...
, shot a first-round 7-under-par 65 which included seven birdies and an eagle, but followed up with rounds of 76-73-77 to miss the fourth-round cut with a score of 3-over-par 291. At the Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego, McQuillan struggled with rounds of 74-77 to miss the halfway cut with a score of 7-over-par 151. McQuillan scored 76-76-68 for 6-over-par 220 in the AT&T National Pro-Am, missing the 54-hole cut. McQuillan shot rounds of 76-73 at the Mayakoba Golf Classic near Cancun, Mexico, missing the 36-hole cut. McQuillan scored 71-74 at the 2011 Puerto Rico Open
Puerto Rico Open
The Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com is a professional golf tournament played for the first time on the PGA Tour from March 20 to March 23, 2008. The prize fund was US$3.5 million with $630,000 going to the winner. The tournament was played at the Trump International Golf Club Puerto...
, held just east of San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, to miss the 36-hole cut by one stroke.
After playing on the PGA Tour for ten weeks in 2011, making just one cut in six events, McQuillan said the course setups he had been facing were much tougher than anything he had seen before, but added that he was settling into life on the Tour, and anticipated an improvement in his performance as he gained experience. McQuillan dropped down to the Nationwide Tour for his next event, the Louisiana Classic. After opening with 70-66 to move into contention, he struggled on the weekend with rounds of 76 and 73 to finish at one-over-par 285, tied for 62nd place, earning $1,463. McQuillan's struggles continued at the Valero Texas Open
Valero Texas Open
The Valero Texas Open is an official tournament on the PGA Tour. It dates back to 1922 when it was first called the Texas Open; San Antonio-based Valero Energy Corporation took over naming rights in 2002. It is played at The Oaks Course at the TPC San Antonio. In 2003, it was the site of the...
, where he missed the 36-hole cut after rounds of 82-75. McQuillan shot 78-77 at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans
Zurich Classic of New Orleans
The Zurich Classic of New Orleans is a regular golf tournament on the PGA Tour. It is played annually in New Orleans, Louisiana; its historic date has been in April, but was moved to March in 2008. Zurich Financial Services is the main sponsor of the tournament.From the event's inception through...
to miss the cut by 12 strokes. McQuillan played the Nationwide Tour's Stadion Classic at UGA on his former home course in Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
, but missed the 36-hole cut by three strokes with scores of 71-76. His next event was the HP Byron Nelson Championship near Dallas, where his scores of 73-73 missed the 36-hole cut by three strokes. McQuillan played the Nationwide Tour's Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
event, the Melwood Prince George's County Open
Melwood Prince George's County Open
The Melwood Prince George's County Open is a golf tournament on the Nationwide Tour. In 2010, it was played on the University of Maryland Golf Course in College Park, Maryland...
, and missed the cut by two shots with scores of 72-71. He shot 70-73 to miss the 36-hole cut by one stroke at the FedEx St. Jude Classic near Memphis. Although he missed another cut, by four strokes, at the Travelers Championship near Hartford with scores of 73-67, his second round was his first under 70 on the PGA Tour since Pebble Beach, four months before.
Contends at John Deere Classic
McQuillan broke out of his slump in decisive fashion at the John Deere ClassicJohn Deere Classic
The John Deere Classic is an American professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour. It is played annually in July, the week before the British Open, at the TPC at Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois....
, in Silvis, Illinois
Silvis, Illinois
Silvis is a city in Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population as of 2010 had broken the 10,000 marker to 10,021.-Geography:Silvis is located at ....
. He opened with 64 to tie for second place, one stroke out of the lead. He made the halfway cut comfortably with a second-round 69, then played well on the weekend with rounds of 70-64, finishing with 17-under-par 267, to tie for third place, winning $261,000. His three eagles led the field. His position on the Official World Golf Ranking jumped to #506. McQuillan continued his good play at the Viking Classic, near Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
, where he scored 72-65-71-67, for 13-under-par 275, to tie for 34th place, winning $18,990. McQuillan made his third straight cut at the RBC Canadian Open, held over the Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club
Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club
Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club is a private golf club located on Southwest Marine Drive in Vancouver, British Columbia.- History :The Shaughnessy Heights Golf Course, today the Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club, had its beginning in 1911 in the office of CPR executive, Richard Marpole...
in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, scoring 68-73-74-70 for 5-over-par 285, tied for 31st place, and winning $33,800. McQuillan saw his streak of three straight made cuts end at the 2011 Greenbrier Classic
Greenbrier Classic
The Greenbrier Classic is a PGA Tour golf tournament that was played for the first time in 2010 at The Old White TPC at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia...
, where his scores of 71-74 missed the 36-hole cut by four strokes. McQuillan tied for sixth place at the 2011 Reno-Tahoe Open with scores of 71-69-71-66 for a 277 total, 11-under-par, winning $97,125.
McQuillan's scores of 69-70 at the Wyndham Championship missed the halfway cut by two strokes, and he failed to make the top 125 point scorers for the FedEx Cup, missing the four playoff events. McQuillan made seven cuts in 21 events and ended the season 137th on the money list.