His father, Bob, was selected in the fifth round of the 1967 NFL/AFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles after a collegiate football career as a center at Indiana University.

Van Pelt graduated from Richmond High where he was a two time All-State golfer and the 1993 Fred Keesling Award winner.

He now plays on the PGA Tour and captured his maiden victory in 2009 at the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee, beating John Mallinger in a sudden death playoff on the second extra hole.

Van Pelt claimed his first victory on the European Tour in October 2012, when he won in Australia at the ISPS Handa Perth International.

On June 13, 2021, Van Pelt finished joint runner-up one stroke behind Garrick Higgo in the Palmetto Championship.