Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Firestone Invitational
Men?s Golf Finishes Sixth at Firestone Invitational
October 07, 2014 | Men's Golf
AKRON, Ohio -- The Ball State men's golf team moved up to sixth place Tuesday and freshman Michael VanDeventer climbed into a tie for seventh to close the Firestone Invitational.
VanDeventer, playing just his second collegiate event, finished at 1-over par 217 for the three rounds. He posted his second straight even-par round of 72 Tuesday, matching James Blackwell for the team's best score of the day.
VanDeventer and Blackwell both carded four birdies and four bogeys in the final round with Blackwell recording three birdies in a row on the front nine. McCormick Clouser and Zach Yinger also had four birdies on a breezy afternoon at Firestone Country Club's North Course.
Clouser posted a 73 and Yinger a 74 to provide the other two counting scores for Ball State. The Cardinals closed with their best round of the tournament, a 3-over par 291, to move from a tie for eighth at the beginning of the day into sixth out of 17 teams. They finished with a 54-hole total of 886 (+22).
USC Aiken (+12) topped Xavier by one shot to win the tournament. Eastern Michigan posted the only under-par round of the day to move into third place. The Eagles were the only team with a better score in the final round than Ball State.
Xavier's Jose Montano finished as the individual medalist at 4 under par, edging Louis Birchall of Akron by one stroke.
Johnny Watts, competing as an individual this week, was Ball State's second-best finisher in a tie for 16th. Watts finished at 220 (+4) after a final-round 75. Clouser tied for 22nd at 221 (+5), while Yinger tied for 31st at 223 (+7).
Ball State returns to action next week, hosting the Sagamore Fall Preview at The Sagamore Club in Noblesville, site of next spring's NCAA Regional. The action gets underway Monday, Oct. 13 with some top competition, including No. 1-ranked Illinois.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State men's golf, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateMGolf and @mikefleck on Twitter.
