Ball State University Athletics
Cardinals in Fifth Place in Little Rock When Second-Round Play Suspended Due to Darkness
October 16, 2023 | Men's Golf
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Ali Khan shot 3-under par in the second round of the Everett Buick GMC Classic at Chenal Country Club on Monday, rising to eighth place overall and helping Ball State steady its position in fifth place when play was suspended due to darkness. All 14 teams will complete second-round holes and play the final round of the 54-hole event on Tuesday.
Khan blistered the course in the second round, shooting 5-under par through the first nine holes to shoot into position among the leaders. He shot 1-under par 71 in Monday's opening round and was at 3-under 65 through 17 holes when officials halted play. Starting on the ninth hole in a shotgun start to open the second round, Khan will play the eighth hole to finish the round early Tuesday.
Kash Bellar, who finished second-round play ahead of the suspension, paced the Cardinals with a 2-under par 70 in the opening round and shot 1-under 71 in round two. He ended Monday's play in a six-way tie for 10th place, one stroke behind Khan.
Bellar, Braxton Kuntz and Carter Smith all finished before darkness. Khan and Alec Cesare, who will begin Tuesday on the seventh hole, have one hole to complete in the second round.
"We had a rough ending today, but we're still very much in it," said Ball State coach Mike Fleck.
Ball State opened the second round in similar fashion as its last two tournaments – blitzing the field and at one point rising into the lead through nine holes. Khan shot birdies on five of his first nine second-round holes, including eagle on the par-5 12th hole. The hot Ball State start featured 13 birdies in the first half of the second round. The Cardinals cooled in the second half, but boasted four golfers at +1 or below when play was halted.
Ball State was in sixth place through 18 holes and enters Tuesday's play in fifth, one stroke behind tournament host Little Rock. The Cardinals are two strokes behind third-place LSU, three strokes behind Central Arkansas and four behind Michigan in the lead.
Ali Khan: 36-35—71 | 34-31—65 (136**)
Kash Bellar: 32-38—70 | 36-35—71 (141)
Carter Smith: 37-35—72 | 37-36—73 (145)
Braxton Kuntz: 40-37—77 | 38-33—71 (148)
Alec Cesare: 35-39—74 | 37-37—74 (148**)
** through 17 holes
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Khan blistered the course in the second round, shooting 5-under par through the first nine holes to shoot into position among the leaders. He shot 1-under par 71 in Monday's opening round and was at 3-under 65 through 17 holes when officials halted play. Starting on the ninth hole in a shotgun start to open the second round, Khan will play the eighth hole to finish the round early Tuesday.
Kash Bellar, who finished second-round play ahead of the suspension, paced the Cardinals with a 2-under par 70 in the opening round and shot 1-under 71 in round two. He ended Monday's play in a six-way tie for 10th place, one stroke behind Khan.
Bellar, Braxton Kuntz and Carter Smith all finished before darkness. Khan and Alec Cesare, who will begin Tuesday on the seventh hole, have one hole to complete in the second round.
"We had a rough ending today, but we're still very much in it," said Ball State coach Mike Fleck.
Ball State opened the second round in similar fashion as its last two tournaments – blitzing the field and at one point rising into the lead through nine holes. Khan shot birdies on five of his first nine second-round holes, including eagle on the par-5 12th hole. The hot Ball State start featured 13 birdies in the first half of the second round. The Cardinals cooled in the second half, but boasted four golfers at +1 or below when play was halted.
Ball State was in sixth place through 18 holes and enters Tuesday's play in fifth, one stroke behind tournament host Little Rock. The Cardinals are two strokes behind third-place LSU, three strokes behind Central Arkansas and four behind Michigan in the lead.
Ali Khan: 36-35—71 | 34-31—65 (136**)
Kash Bellar: 32-38—70 | 36-35—71 (141)
Carter Smith: 37-35—72 | 37-36—73 (145)
Braxton Kuntz: 40-37—77 | 38-33—71 (148)
Alec Cesare: 35-39—74 | 37-37—74 (148**)
** through 17 holes
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Players Mentioned
Sports Link // Cardinal Conversations with Carter Smith & Jeff Mitchell
Tuesday, March 17
Heart of the Cardinal Podcast // Guests: Mike Fleck and Alauna Simms
Monday, December 15
Heart of the Cardinal Podcast // Mike Fleck on Program Approach
Saturday, December 13
Sports Link: International Student Athlete Day
Monday, November 17