Ball State University Athletics
Men?s Golf in Florida for Yestingsmeier Match Play
February 07, 2016 | Men's Golf
Live Scoring | Rd. 1 Pairings | Bracket
The Ball State men's golf team returns to action this week, hosting the Earl Yestingsmeier Match Play at Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club in Dade City, Fla.
It is the fifth straight year for the event, which Ball State has won twice (2012 and 2014). Eastern Michigan and Toledo shared the title last year when weather delays kept the final round from being played.
The eight-team tournament includes two rounds Monday and the final round Tuesday. Play is set to begin each day at 8:30 a.m. on Lake Jovita's South Course with live scoring available at golfstat.com.
Coach Mike Fleck's Ball State team is the No. 7 seed based on its Golfstat ranking and will square off in the opening round with No. 2 seed Notre Dame.
The other first-round contest in Ball State's half of the draw features No. 3 seed Toledo versus No. 6 seed Dayton. The other side of the bracket will see No. 1 seed Miami University face No. 8 seed Ohio and No. 4 seed Xavier meet No. 5 seed Eastern Michigan.
Every team will play three matches on the par-72, 7,153-yard layout. Winners will advance in the championship bracket, while losing teams will continue competition in the consolation bracket.
Each team match will consist of six individual matches. The Cardinals' lineup features Johnny Watts, Michael VanDeventer, James Blackwell, Michael Makris, Timothy Wiseman and Keegan McKinney.
It is the first action for the Cardinals since they wrapped up their fall season in early November at the Ka'anapali Collegiate Classic in Hawaii.
Formerly known as the Mid-American Match Play, this week's event was renamed last year in honor of long-time Ball State men's golf coach Earl Yestingsmeier, who passed away in January 2014.
Yestingsmeier spent 36 seasons leading the Ball State men's golf program, including 31 in a dual role as sports information director and golf coach. He guided the Cardinals to 107 tournament titles and 11 NCAA Tournament appearances before retiring in 1998. For his success, he was enshrined in the Ball State Athletics, Golf Coaches Association and Indiana Golf halls of fame.
