Bellar and Cesare Lead Ball State on Day 1 of Dorado Beach Collegiate
February 25, 2024 | Men's Golf
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Depth in the Ball State lineup helped the Cardinals to a fourth-place standing after the first round of the Dorado Beach Collegiate, conducted at TPC Dorado in San Juan. Junior Kash Bellar and freshman Alec Cesare both shot 4-under-par 68 through their first round on Sunday, with junior Ali Khan firing a 3-under 69.
As a team, Ball State used its solid start to score 276 on the day (12 under par) and sits in fourth place going into Monday's second round.
Navigating the par-72, 7,112-yard Sugarcane Course, Bellar and Cesare tied for 14th place overall after one round. Bellar, playing in the Cardinals' No. 2 lineup position, birdied five holes on the day and just once, on the 16th hole, shot over par. Cesare meanwhile, playing at No. 5, fired eight birdies in his round to lead all golfers in the tournament in the opening round.
"This was a good, solid start for the squad in round one today," said longtime Cardinals coach Mike Fleck. "Winds were calm early and we took advantage of scoring opportunities on the par 5's early in the round (holes 6 and 9). We weren't quite as sharp on the back 9 par 5's, and 15-18 is a tough stretch to finish up on … we let a few shots slip away there."
Khan's 3-under puts him in 21st place out of 107 golfers after the first round. He, too, managed five birdies, but he was one-over on holes 4 and 16. Carter Smith and Braxton Kuntz both shot 1-under par 71 as all five Cardinals finished under par.
Counting individual golfers, in fact, six out of seven Ball State golfers overall finished under par. Jensen Klondike also shot 1-under par 71, and Griffin Hare shot 2-over par 74.
"Overall we had a good day," added Fleck. "We made a lot of birdies as a team, and we are in good position going into the second round."
The Cardinals, one shot behind Louisiana-Monroe (275) in third place, are five shots behind West Virginia (271) in second and host UNC Greensboro (270) in the lead. Only Ball State, WVU and UNCG finished the opening round with all five golfers below par. Ball State's 26 birdies overall, are second to 27 by only West Virginia and Illinois State.
Kash Bellar: 33-35—68 (-4, 14th)
Alec Cesare: 32-36—68 (-4, 14th)
Ali Khan: 35-34—69 (-3, 21st)
Carter Smith: 35-36—71 (-1, 47th)
Braxton Kuntz: 35-36—71 (-1, 47th)
***
Jensen Klondike: 35-36—71 (-1, 47th)
Griffin Hare: 33-41—74 (+2, 79th)
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As a team, Ball State used its solid start to score 276 on the day (12 under par) and sits in fourth place going into Monday's second round.
Navigating the par-72, 7,112-yard Sugarcane Course, Bellar and Cesare tied for 14th place overall after one round. Bellar, playing in the Cardinals' No. 2 lineup position, birdied five holes on the day and just once, on the 16th hole, shot over par. Cesare meanwhile, playing at No. 5, fired eight birdies in his round to lead all golfers in the tournament in the opening round.
"This was a good, solid start for the squad in round one today," said longtime Cardinals coach Mike Fleck. "Winds were calm early and we took advantage of scoring opportunities on the par 5's early in the round (holes 6 and 9). We weren't quite as sharp on the back 9 par 5's, and 15-18 is a tough stretch to finish up on … we let a few shots slip away there."
Khan's 3-under puts him in 21st place out of 107 golfers after the first round. He, too, managed five birdies, but he was one-over on holes 4 and 16. Carter Smith and Braxton Kuntz both shot 1-under par 71 as all five Cardinals finished under par.
Counting individual golfers, in fact, six out of seven Ball State golfers overall finished under par. Jensen Klondike also shot 1-under par 71, and Griffin Hare shot 2-over par 74.
"Overall we had a good day," added Fleck. "We made a lot of birdies as a team, and we are in good position going into the second round."
The Cardinals, one shot behind Louisiana-Monroe (275) in third place, are five shots behind West Virginia (271) in second and host UNC Greensboro (270) in the lead. Only Ball State, WVU and UNCG finished the opening round with all five golfers below par. Ball State's 26 birdies overall, are second to 27 by only West Virginia and Illinois State.
Kash Bellar: 33-35—68 (-4, 14th)
Alec Cesare: 32-36—68 (-4, 14th)
Ali Khan: 35-34—69 (-3, 21st)
Carter Smith: 35-36—71 (-1, 47th)
Braxton Kuntz: 35-36—71 (-1, 47th)
***
Jensen Klondike: 35-36—71 (-1, 47th)
Griffin Hare: 33-41—74 (+2, 79th)
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