Ball State University Athletics
Saturday, April 20
Champaign, IL
All Day
Ball State University
at
Fighting Illini Spring Collegiate
Photo by: Josh Shelton
Men's Golf Heads to Fighting Illini Spring Collegiate
April 18, 2024 | Men's Golf
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Hoping to recover and recharge prior to the Mid-American Conference men's golf championships just a week away, the Ball State men's golf team plays its final regular season tournament this weekend at Atkins Golf Club at the University of Illinois.
The 7,503-yard course in Urbana, Illinois, is the longest the Cardinals will face this season, offering still another test while prepping for next week's MAC Championships. A part of that preparation, though, will be Ball State's ability to recover from a rough outing in Tennessee two weeks ago at the Mason Rudolph Championship, hosted by No. 2-ranked Vanderbilt. On a 7,112-yard track at Vanderbilt Legends Club, the Cardinals were competitive in the first of three rounds, but struggled against a top-caliber field that featured three top-10 programs among its 13 teams.
At this weekend's Fighting Illini Spring Collegiate, Ball State ventures onto a top-20 school's home course for the third time in five weeks, beginning at top-ranked Auburn in March.
Head coach Mike Fleck looks for a reset and a breath of fresh air after a tough week in Tennessee. Carter Smith continues in the Cardinals' lineup as its No. 1 golfer, followed by Khan and Braxton Kuntz at No. 3. Two weeks ago, Kuntz was the MAC Golfer of the Week, and playing from Ball State's No. 5 position, led the Cardinals with a 6-over-par showing to finish 33rd overall at the MRC. Cesare slots in the No. 4 position for Ball State this week, and grad transfer Jensen Klondike will battle at No. 5.
"This is our last regular season event and third one in-a-row where one on the nation's top programs host along with having a highly competitive field," said Fleck. "We are looking for a fresh reset and getting back to the solid team golf we've played most of the year. Atkins will be a true test being the longest course we've played this year. Our guys are hungry and looking to prove themselves as we enter postseason!"
The Cardinals open play among 12 teams at 7:30 a.m. CT, Saturday morning. Two rounds of 18 holes will be played Saturday, followed by a final round to complete the 54-hole event on Sunday. Besides Ball State and the host Illini, other participating teams include Butler, DePaul, Loyola-Chicago, Marquette, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Toledo, South Dakota and UC San Diego.
Ball State Lineup, Fighting Illini Spring Collegiate, April 20-21
No. 1 - Carter Smith, sophomore, Sellersburg, Ind.
No. 2 - Ali Khan, junior, Columbus, Ohio
No. 3 - Braxton Kuntz, junior, Winnipeg, Manitoba
No. 4 - Alec Cesare, freshman, Westfield, Ind.
No. 5 - Jensen Klondike, graduate, Louisville, Ky.
Individual - Kash Bellar, junior, Peru, Ind.
The 7,503-yard course in Urbana, Illinois, is the longest the Cardinals will face this season, offering still another test while prepping for next week's MAC Championships. A part of that preparation, though, will be Ball State's ability to recover from a rough outing in Tennessee two weeks ago at the Mason Rudolph Championship, hosted by No. 2-ranked Vanderbilt. On a 7,112-yard track at Vanderbilt Legends Club, the Cardinals were competitive in the first of three rounds, but struggled against a top-caliber field that featured three top-10 programs among its 13 teams.
At this weekend's Fighting Illini Spring Collegiate, Ball State ventures onto a top-20 school's home course for the third time in five weeks, beginning at top-ranked Auburn in March.
Head coach Mike Fleck looks for a reset and a breath of fresh air after a tough week in Tennessee. Carter Smith continues in the Cardinals' lineup as its No. 1 golfer, followed by Khan and Braxton Kuntz at No. 3. Two weeks ago, Kuntz was the MAC Golfer of the Week, and playing from Ball State's No. 5 position, led the Cardinals with a 6-over-par showing to finish 33rd overall at the MRC. Cesare slots in the No. 4 position for Ball State this week, and grad transfer Jensen Klondike will battle at No. 5.
"This is our last regular season event and third one in-a-row where one on the nation's top programs host along with having a highly competitive field," said Fleck. "We are looking for a fresh reset and getting back to the solid team golf we've played most of the year. Atkins will be a true test being the longest course we've played this year. Our guys are hungry and looking to prove themselves as we enter postseason!"
The Cardinals open play among 12 teams at 7:30 a.m. CT, Saturday morning. Two rounds of 18 holes will be played Saturday, followed by a final round to complete the 54-hole event on Sunday. Besides Ball State and the host Illini, other participating teams include Butler, DePaul, Loyola-Chicago, Marquette, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Toledo, South Dakota and UC San Diego.
Ball State Lineup, Fighting Illini Spring Collegiate, April 20-21
No. 1 - Carter Smith, sophomore, Sellersburg, Ind.
No. 2 - Ali Khan, junior, Columbus, Ohio
No. 3 - Braxton Kuntz, junior, Winnipeg, Manitoba
No. 4 - Alec Cesare, freshman, Westfield, Ind.
No. 5 - Jensen Klondike, graduate, Louisville, Ky.
Individual - Kash Bellar, junior, Peru, Ind.
Players Mentioned
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
Homecoming // Cardinal Sinners! Presented by Gameday Spirit
Friday, October 17