Ex-PGA golfer Matt McQuillan dead at 45

Former PGA Tour player Matt McQuillan died suddenly at the age of 45 earlier this week. 

According to an obituary online, McQuillan died on Wednesday, Aug. 5, surrounded by his family at Kingston General Hospital in Ontario, Canada. No cause of death was listed. 

“Whether on the course or in everyday life, he had a remarkable ability to bring people together, offering encouragement, laughter, and genuine friendship to everyone he met. His welcoming personality and unwavering kindness made him a beloved figure within Kingston’s golfing community and beyond,” his obituary read, according to the Kingston Whig-Standard newspaper.

Matt McQuillan of Canada hits a drive during the first round of the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run on July 7, 2011 in Silvis, Illinois. Getty Images

McQuillan, a Kingston, Ontario, Canada native, turned pro in 2003, eventually earning his PGA Tour card through Q-School in 2010. He made seven cuts in 21 events in 2011 and had the best finish of his career that same year in the John Deere Classic when he tied for third place. 

In a tribute post written by the PGA Tour, it said McQuillan had remained within the game of golf through teaching the game in his hometown, “helping introduce and develop the next generation of Canadian golfers.”

“Friends who shared rounds with him remember his enthusiasm, positive attitude, and appreciation for every moment spent on the course. He celebrated the successes of others as readily as his own and was always willing to encourage fellow golfers, regardless of their skill level,” his family also wrote.

Matt McQuillan of Canada celebrates his par to finish two under for the day during round one of the RBC Canadian Open at the Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club on July 21, 2011 in Vancouver, Canada. Getty Images

Before turning pro, McQuillan played college golf at Oklahoma State, starting his career there in 2000 and then transferring to the University of Georgia. 

“Matt McQuillan’s golf story began in Kingston, Ont., and no matter where the game took him, Kingston remained at the heart of it. Golf Canada joins the Canadian golf community in mourning the passing of McQuillan,” Golf Canada said in a post on its website.