Ball State University Athletics
Men's Golf Alums Finish at Top of Professional Events
May 31, 2009 | Men's Golf
Brian Maurer (Richmond, Ind./Richmond H.S.), a senior member of the 2008-09 Ball State University men's golf team, finished 10th in his first professional golf event, while Jeff Gallagher (Marion, Ind./Marion H.S.), who lettered in golf for the Cardinals from 1984-87, lost in a playoff at the Rex Hospital Open on the Nationwide Tour.
Maurer competed at the ADI Classic at Cherry Blossom Golf Club in Georgetown, Ky., and tied for 10th after shooting a 780-65-71-70=276. He entered the final round tied for 13th and completed the tournament with a 12-under par score to earn $3,533.00 in his professional debut. Maurer completed his Ball State senior season in May by earning Ball State's Travis J. Smith Most Valuable Player Award. The MVP Award is named in honor of Smith, who was a member of the Ball State golf team as a freshman in 2006-07 before his untimely death in an automobile accident in January of 2007. Maurer led the Cardinals with a 73.58 average and was named to the All-Mid-American Conference First Team. He posted eight top-20 finishes in 2008-09, including four top-10 placings. Maurer was Ball State's top individual in six out of 12 tournaments this past season, including the MAC Championships where he tied for 10th. He tallied a season low 66 at the Earl Yestingsmeier Invitational last fall, and owns a career low of 65, which he managed in the 2007-08 season. Maurer was the team's co-MVP as a junior and was named Ball State's Most Improved Player as a sophomore.
Gallagher was competing in his 10th Nationwide Tour event of the year and is 35th on this season's money list. He carded a 64-69-69-64=266 to tie Kevin Johnson. Johnson managed a birdie four on the first playoff hole, while Gallagher managed a par five. He has made six tournament cuts in 2009, and has competed in 134 events on the PGA Tour in his career. The Rex Hosptial Open was played in Raleigh, N.C., at the TPC Wakefield Plantation.
Other Ball State alums C.D. Hockersmith and Patrick Wilkes-Krier also competed in the ADI Classic on the Hooters Tour this weekend. Wilkes-Krier shot a 73-70, while Hockersmith managed a 75-72, and both players missed the cut in the event.
Players Mentioned
