Ball State University Athletics
Photo by: Josh Shelton
Cardinals in Sixth Place, Kuntz 13th, Through 36 Holes at Fighting Illini Spring Collegiate
April 20, 2024 | Men's Golf
URBANA, Ill. – Braxton Kuntz shot 5-over-par through the opening two rounds of the Fighting Illini Spring Collegiate on Saturday, sharing a 13th-place tie at the Atkins Golf Club at the University of Illinois. Firing 72-75—147 over 36 holes, Kuntz paced Ball State in the opening round and finished a stroke behind teammate Ali Khan (74-74—148) in the second round. The Cardinals' Carter Smith (73-76—149) was one stroke behind the leaders as Ball State sits in sixth place heading into Sunday's final round.
On the 7,503-yard course at The Atkins Club, Smith, Khan and Kuntz – golfing at No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 for the Cardinals – led Ball State all day. Smith was an early leader until Kuntz got hot late in the opening round. Smith led again in the second round until he bogeyed the 17th and 18th holes, Khan, whose 26 holes of par sits third among 69 competitors, was steady throughout. Each member of the trio is among the tournament's top 23 leaders, with Khan tied in 20th and Smith in 23rd.
Alec Cesare (74-78—152) is three strokes behind Smith, tied for 38th. Jensen Klondike (76-78—154) is another two strokes past Cesare, in 43rd. Also 43rd is Cardinals' teammate Kash Bellar (74-80—154), who is competing as an individual.
"We started solid in round one," said 26th-year Cardinals coach Mike Fleck, "and even halfway through the second round we were in a good place before the wheels fell off on the back nine. The goal tomorrow is to move back up into the Top 5 with a solid team round."
Ball State was hot in the opening round, firing 9-over as a team to sit behind tournament host and 18th-ranked Illinois. Kuntz paced the Cardinals' fast start with a 3-under-par 32 on the back nine, racing into sixth place, one stroke ahead of Smith, then in eighth.
With the final 18 holes scheduled to tee off Sunday at 8:00 a.m. CT, the Illini (+4, 572) lead the 12-team field followed by Big Ten powers Northwestern (+18, 586), Michigan (+21, 589) and Michigan State (+21, 589). Mid-American Conference rival Toledo (+25, 593) is three strokes ahead of Ball State (+28, 596), setting pace just one week ahead of the MAC Championships.
Ball State Individual Results, through Round 2
No. 3 Braxton Kuntz (147): 40-32—72 | 36-39--75 (+5, 13th)
No. 2 Ali Khan (148): 37-37—74 | 36-38—74 (+6, 20th)
No. 1 Carter Smith (149): 34-39—73 | 37-39—76 (+7, 23rd)
No. 4 Alec Cesare (152): 38-36—74 | 39-39—78 (+10, 38th)
No. 5 Jensen Klondike (154): 40-36—76 | 39-39—78 (+12, 44th)
Individual Kash Bellar (154): 38-36—74 | 41-39—80 (+12, 44th)
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On the 7,503-yard course at The Atkins Club, Smith, Khan and Kuntz – golfing at No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 for the Cardinals – led Ball State all day. Smith was an early leader until Kuntz got hot late in the opening round. Smith led again in the second round until he bogeyed the 17th and 18th holes, Khan, whose 26 holes of par sits third among 69 competitors, was steady throughout. Each member of the trio is among the tournament's top 23 leaders, with Khan tied in 20th and Smith in 23rd.
Alec Cesare (74-78—152) is three strokes behind Smith, tied for 38th. Jensen Klondike (76-78—154) is another two strokes past Cesare, in 43rd. Also 43rd is Cardinals' teammate Kash Bellar (74-80—154), who is competing as an individual.
"We started solid in round one," said 26th-year Cardinals coach Mike Fleck, "and even halfway through the second round we were in a good place before the wheels fell off on the back nine. The goal tomorrow is to move back up into the Top 5 with a solid team round."
Ball State was hot in the opening round, firing 9-over as a team to sit behind tournament host and 18th-ranked Illinois. Kuntz paced the Cardinals' fast start with a 3-under-par 32 on the back nine, racing into sixth place, one stroke ahead of Smith, then in eighth.
With the final 18 holes scheduled to tee off Sunday at 8:00 a.m. CT, the Illini (+4, 572) lead the 12-team field followed by Big Ten powers Northwestern (+18, 586), Michigan (+21, 589) and Michigan State (+21, 589). Mid-American Conference rival Toledo (+25, 593) is three strokes ahead of Ball State (+28, 596), setting pace just one week ahead of the MAC Championships.
Ball State Individual Results, through Round 2
No. 3 Braxton Kuntz (147): 40-32—72 | 36-39--75 (+5, 13th)
No. 2 Ali Khan (148): 37-37—74 | 36-38—74 (+6, 20th)
No. 1 Carter Smith (149): 34-39—73 | 37-39—76 (+7, 23rd)
No. 4 Alec Cesare (152): 38-36—74 | 39-39—78 (+10, 38th)
No. 5 Jensen Klondike (154): 40-36—76 | 39-39—78 (+12, 44th)
Individual Kash Bellar (154): 38-36—74 | 41-39—80 (+12, 44th)
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