Michael VanDeventer was all set to play on PGA Tour Latinoamerica this year, but like many other things in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench into those plans.
The former Columbus North and Ball State standout was able to play in one event in March on PGA Tour Latinoamerica before the tour was suspended. With most other golf events also canceled this spring, VanDeventer had to scramble to find work.
“It was a little disappointing to see everything get canceled because I was playing well and was in position to have a good spring,” VanDeventer said. “I ended up working and doing some odd jobs to make a living because there weren’t any golf tournaments to play in.”
Although VanDeventer has worked part-time as a physical trainer near his home in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, gyms were shut down, so that wasn’t an option. So he worked for a family in Lakewood Ranch doing maintenance and repairs.
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“It was fine thankfully with that doing the jobs I did,” VanDeventer said. “I was basically a handyman. I was able to learn some new things and some new skills. All in all, it wasn’t a terrible experience at all.”
During that period, VanDeventer learned more about the Dakotas Tour. In late June, he headed to South Dakota with Tyler Gray, a Huntingburg native that he knew from junior tournaments, and Elliott Grayson, an Akron graduate who VanDeventer played against in college.
The trio spent the month of July living in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with a friend of VanDeventer’s college roommate Tyler Ostrom.
“It’s a pretty good location,” VanDeventer said. “It’s about an hour from most of the tournaments we’re playing in.”
VanDeventer played in seven tournaments in July. He made four cuts and finished in the top 10 twice and top 20 four times. His best finish was a sixth, when he shot 68-65-70—203 July 6-8 at Fox Run Golf Course in Yankton, South Dakota.
In his seven tournaments, VanDeventer accumulated 268 points to put him in 23rd place on the points list. He earned $5,465, which ranks 24th on the money list.
“I feel like I played pretty well,” VanDeventer said. “This is one of the more consistent stretches I’ve had as far as putting multiple good scores together. But the competition out there this year is really good, too. There’s a lot of guys that play on the international tours since they got canceled. It kind of forces you to raise your own game. You have to find a way to get better. The winning score last weekend was 25-under, and you had to be 6- or 7-under just to make the cut.”
On Monday, VanDeventer put the Dakotas in his rearview mirror. He packed up and headed for Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, for a pair of independent tournaments. On his way, he stayed in Lansing, Michigan, with friend and former North teammate Christian Fairbanks, who he shared state medalist honors with in 2014 when they led the Bull Dogs to the state championship.
VanDeventer’s first tournament in Sault Ste. Marie takes place today and Friday, and the second is Sunday and Monday. After that, VanDeventer will head back to Florida. The PGA Tour has instituted a series of seven events called LocaliQ Series for players on the LatinoAmerica, Mackenzie and China Tours, along with some Korn Ferry Tour members.
“It’s kind of a mixture of everybody, but it’s a chance to play some good courses and earn some money,” VanDeventer said.
The seven-event LocaliQ Series will be played in Georgia, Alabama and Florida beginning this weekend. VanDeventer won’t play in the first two events, but plans to play in the final five.
The LocaliQ Series runs through the end of October. After that, there is a chance the PGA Tour Latinoamerica will resume. When it does, VanDeventer and the rest of the members of that tour from the beginning of this year will retain exempt status for 2021.
No matter what happens the rest of this year, 2020 certainly has thrown VanDeventer a curve.
“It’s definitely different than what I was planning on doing,” VanDeventer said. “But everybody is in the same boat, and you can’t make excuses. You just have to make the most of it, and when you get in tournaments, you have to do the best you can.”
