Ball State University Athletics
Men's Golf: 2005 Fall Season Preview
September 05, 2005 | Men's Golf
The Ball State men's golf team returns eight letterwinners from last year's team, which finished in the top-four at four different tournaments last spring.
In April, the Cardinals finished second at the First Energy Intercollegiate at Firestone Country Club in Akron for their best team finish of the season at the 15-team event. At the Mid-American Conference Championships in May, the Cardinals finished third and with all but two seniors returning this season, are excited about their chances in 2005-06.
After opening the fall in Iowa, the Cardinals travel to the University of Michigan for the Wolverine Invitational Sept. 24-25. In October, BSU will play host to the Earl Yestingsmeier Invitational at the Delaware Country Club, before trips to Xavier and Charlotte round out the fall campaign
The 2005-06 Cardinals will rely on the leadership of three seniors -- Brandon Boomsma, Ryan Hungate and Patrick Wilkes-Krier.
Wilkes-Krier earned his third letter last year and managed a scoring average of 73.59. He was the Cardinals' top finisher at the Fossum/TaylorMade Invitational with his seventh-place effort and recorded the team's lowest round of the season when he carded a 67 in round two of the event. Wilkes-Krier was also named to the Academic All-MAC Team and was named a Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar.
Wilkes-Krier had a successful summer playing in both the Michigan Amateur and the Michigan Open. He finished second at the Michigan Amateur in June, then days later fired an opening round 66 to grab the lead of the Michigan Open. He finished seventh overall.
"Patrick had a great summer," says BSU head coach Mike Fleck. "He played a lot of competitive golf and continues to play well into the fall. There's no question what Patrick brings to this team. He has worked hard and is excited about his senior season."
Junior C.D. Hockersmith is also expected to lead the experienced Cardinals in 2005-06. Hockersmith notched his first collegiate win at last year's Earl Yestingsmeier Invitational and was named the team's Most Valuable Player in 2004. He led the Cardinals with a 12th place finish at the Mid-American Conference Championships and had a scoring average of 75.68 last season.
This summer Hockersmith made national news when he made the round of 32 at the United States Golf Association's National Public Links Championships and faced Michelle Wie in match play.
"CD has worked hard and it paid off for him this summer," Fleck says. "We hope he picks up right where he left off. I don't have any reason to doubt he will."
Also returning for the Cardinals is junior Wayne Denger. Denger is a two-time letterwinner and was the team leader in scoring average last season at 73.14. He was the team's top finisher in four of the seven tournaments last season. Denger finished tied for second at the First Energy Intercollegiate and tied for third at the UALR/First Tee Collegiate.
"Our seniors and juniors bring a lot to our team, " Fleck says. "The two big things are experience and leadership. They are going to lead the way with how we do things and how we approach our day-to-day preparation."
With expectations high for this veteran group -- which also features junior Andy Skillman, who saw considerable playing time at the end of 2005 -- Fleck is focused on getting back on top of the MAC in 2006.
"Right now, we are focused on trying to get our guys to pick up where they left off last year. We're looking to build on what he accomplished last spring. When you look at the roster and the group of guys we have back, it's hard not to be excited. They know what's expected. Our fall season will go a long way in reaching our goals."
