Matt Beckett is one of the most elite youth golfers ever in Hancock County, becoming a four-time all-Ohioan at Van Buren and then a co-captain of the 1995 Miami (Ohio) University squad. Beckett, who shot a 69 in his first high school match, was a Division III individual runner-up in 1989 and then helped Van Buren win the 1990 state championship. He was also a 3-time Findlay Area Golf Association Player of the Year; won the 1987 Ohio Junior World qualifier; became the youngest player to win the Ohio Big "I" Independent Insurance Classic; was the U.S. Junior Amateur medalist at Muirfield and made the national tourney cut; was a 1992 U.S. Amateur qualifier; and the youngest Findlay Country Club champ in 1988. At Miami (1991-1995), Beckett earned a degree in finance and accounting after lettering three years and playing on the 1994 NCAA Division I finals team. Since he has qualified several times for the Ohio Amateur, is a 3-time Brookside Country Club champion and carries a plus-3 handicap.