Cardinals Target MAC Championships at Chatham Hills in Westfield This Weekend
April 25, 2024 | General, Men's Golf
WESTFIELD, Ind. – The Ball State men's golf team has sights set on the Mid-American Conference Championships this weekend, hoping to capture an elusive league title after a second-place finish last season.
The Cardinals need only travel an hour to compete in the annual tournament this year, conducted at The Club at Chatham Hills in nearby Westfield. Under 26th-year head coach Mike Fleck, the Cardinals have become annual contenders for the MAC crown, posting top-3 finishes nine times since 2005, including back-to-back runner-up finishes in 2017 and 2019. Fleck's 2023 contingent was his fifth squad to finish as MAC runners-up. Last year's team qualified for the first-ever National Golf Invitational, finishing fourth as a team with then-sophomore Kash Bellar claiming the title as the inaugural NGI champion.
This year, Bellar leads a stellar junior class into contention at the MAC Championships, with sophomore Carter Smith playing in the Cardinals' No. 1 position and freshman Alec Cesare holding down the No. 5 slot. Bellar competes at No. 2 in this week's lineup, followed by fellow juniors Braxton Kuntz and Ali Khan. Grad transfer Jensen Klondike will serve as the Cardinals' additional travel player.
Ball State enters the championship weekend following a fifth-place finish at last week's Fighting Illini Spring Collegiate which featured a track of more than 7,500 yards – Ball State's longest of the season. The Cardinals' 7-over par 291 last Sunday was the second-best score of the final round, enough to catapult Ball State past MAC rival Toledo, who finished sixth. Kuntz finished 12th in the event, Smith was 15th, and Cesare and Khan each were tied in 22nd place. Cesare, a Westfield native, will compete in his hometown this weekend after shooting 18 consecutive holes of par last Sunday.
Played on the par-72, 7,334-yard course at Chatham Hills, Toledo is the host of this weekend's MAC tournament, in accordance with the league's annual rotation. Besides topping the Rockets last weekend, Ball State bettered Toledo by two strokes in last year's MAC Championships to finish in second place. Northern Illinois (869) won last year's title with a four-stroke advantage over Ball State (873). Toledo (875) was third, Kent State was fourth (877), Miami (882) fifth and Central Michigan (890) sixth. Eastern Michigan (894), Ohio (900) and Bowling Green (904) rounded out last year's field.
Ball State Lineup at 2024 MAC Men's Golf Championships | The Club at Chatham Hills (par-72, 7,334 yards)
No. 1 – Carter Smith, So., Sellersburg, Ind. | 72.62 average, 26 rounds
No. 2 – Kash Bellar, Jr., Peru, Ind. | 73.42 average, 26 rounds
No. 3 – Braxton Kuntz, Jr., Winnepeg, Manitoba | 73.39 average, 28 rounds
No. 4 – Ali Khan, Jr., Columbus, Ohio | 73.69 average, 26 rounds
No. 5 – Alec Cesare, Fr., Westfield, Ind. | 74.46 average, 26 rounds
Additional – Jensen Klondike, Grad, Louisville, Ky. | 74.43 average, 14 rounds
BALL STATE MEN'S GOLF NOTEBOOK: MAC CHAMPIONSHIPS
PROGRAM IN GOOD HANDS THROUGH 26 YEARS: Cardinals coach Mike Fleck is one of 21 Division I coaches nationally to lead their respective institutions for 26 seasons or longer … a former Ball State player (1988-92), Fleck has guided the Cardinals to top-3 finishes in the MAC Championships nine times, with five runner-up finishes … he is hoping he can capture his first MAC title with his 2024 contingent … his lone trip to the NCAA Nationals came in 2013, 10 years ahead of last year's fourth-place national postseason finish at the National Golf Invitational … Fleck took over the reigns of the Ball State program in August 1998, replacing his own lengendary mentor, Earl Yestingsmeier, who guided Cardinal golfers for 36 years in his own right … as a player, Fleck earned five Top-15 finishes as a senior in 1992 … he graduated from Ball State in 1993 and served as an assistant coach with the Cardinals during the 1993-94 season … he was the head pro at Hickory Hills Club in Farmland, Indiana, for four years before returning to take over for his former coach.
FIVE TOP-5, EIGHT TOP-10 FINISHES: Out of 10 tournaments since September, the Cardinals have collected five Top-5 finishes and eight Top-10 outings, including last week's fifth-place finish at the Fighting Illini Spring Collegiate where Ball State finished behind Big Ten powers Illinois, Michigan State, Michigan and Northwestern. In addition to ten stroke-play events, the Cardinals earned top honors at the MAC/A-10 Challenge, conducted in South Florida, in early February. Other Top-5 finishes included a fourth-place result at the Golfweek Invitational in September and a champion finish at the Cardinals' Earl Yestingsmeier Invitational just a week later. Ball State used a record-setting first- and second-round at the Dorado Beach Collegiate in Puerto Rico, in late February, to earn a second-place finish behind UNC Greensboro.
PROGRAM RECORDS AT DORADO: The Cardinals' 28-under-par 36-hole score at the Dorado Beach Collegiate set a program record for the lowest 36-hole score, relative to par … before the final round was washed out by rain, Ball State shot a 12-under 276 in the first round, followed by a 16-under 272 in the second round … that 16-under score was also a program record for a single round … the Cardinals finished second to Top-40 ranked UNC Greensboro, with all five golfers finishing 36 holes at -2 or better.
YOUNG BUT EXPERIENCED: Ball State's roster is both young and experienced … its only seniors aren't regularly in the lineup at top events, and this week's lineup is led by a sophomore, three juniors and a freshman … the Cardinals' clear goal this year has been to win the MAC title and return to the NCAA championships for the first time since 2013 … last year's NGI appearance was a precursor to this year's success, and the addition of transfer Braxton Kuntz has given the Cardinals a deeper lineup … Carter Smith has been a steady leader atop the lineup at No. 1 or No. 2 in every lineup this season, and "gamer" Kash Bellar returns after winning the NGI last May … Kuntz has been the Cards' top scorer over the past month … Ali Khan has been steady at No. 3 or No. 4 all year … freshman Cesare has helped deepen the Ball State roster this year, adding a Top-10 and two Top-25 finishes in his first college season.
MAC GOLFERS OF THE WEEK: For the first time in Mike Fleck's coaching tenure, four different Ball State players have earned MAC Golfer of the Week accolades … in total, the Cardinals have captured the conference honor six times since September with Carter Smith garnering the award three times: Carter Smith (Sept. 7 & 13, Feb. 8), Kash Bellar (Oct. 5), Jensen Klondike (Oct. 26) and Braxton Kuntz (April 3).
ALL-TOURNAMENT RETURNEES: The Cardinals finished second at the 2023 MAC Championships behind the play of all-tournament golfers Kash Bellar and Carter Smith … Bellar (76-68-71—215) finished fourth at last year's event at 1-under par and just one stroke ahead of teammate Smith (76-70-70—216) who tied for fifth.
PLAYER NOTES
1. CARTER SMITH … sophomore has shown signs of consistently being Ball State's top golfer; he or Kash Bellar have played at No. 1 in every tournament, and he, Bellar or Braxton Kuntz has led the Cardinals in every event … in Ball State's opening tournament of the spring, a match play event at the MAC/A-10 Challenge in South Florida, he needed only 46 of 54 holes to complete his rounds … he was the No. 1 golfer on the top rated team who started each round on the first hole … he never played the 17th or 18th holes in any of three rounds, beating his opponent by the 16th hole each time … he has earned MAC Golfer of the Week three times since last fall … he boasts a pair of Top-5 finishes and four Top-25 finishes … he has twice shot a low round of 68 this year – in the third round of the Earl Yestingsmeier Invitational and again in the second round at Dorado Beach. Stroke average: 72.62 over 26 rounds
2. KASH BELLAR … junior who's biggest "fame" was winning the National Golf Invitational event last year, becoming the first champion of the inaugural event … Fleck calls him a gamer and he usually navigates his way toward the top of the leaderboard in any event … he's got three top-five finishes since last fall, including a fourth-place finish at the Dorado Beach Collegiate in Puerto Rico in February … his second-round 65 at Dorado Beach was Ball State's lowest round of the year – by three strokes! … he leads Ball State with three rounds of 4-under-par or better, and four at 3-under or better … the runner-up to Smith at the E.Y. Invitational in September, he owns three MAC Golfer of the Week honors over the past two seasons … he corralled a share of the weekly honor last fall after a fourth-place finish at the Badger Invitational. Stroke average: 73.42 over 26 rounds
3. BRAXTON KUNTZ … Cardinals' best scorer since April 1, with a 71.87 average over his last eight rounds … he was Ball State's top finisher in each of the Cardinals' last two events … on a difficult course at Auburn last month, Kuntz opened the tournament as the team's best golfer in a rugged first round … he struggled over the final two rounds and was chosen to play in an individual event at Butler University's Don Benbow Invitational just days before Vanderbilt's Mason Rudolph Championship (April 5-7) … rain washed out the final round of the Benbow Invite, but through two rounds on April 1, Kuntz finished in a tie for third place with a pair of 2-under 68s … they were his lowest rounds of the year, and the third-place finish was his first top-10 finish since joining the Ball State team as a transfer from Nicholls State … he has typically played out of the team's No. 4 position, but he played at No. 5 in Vandy's MRC and he emerged at No. 3 last week … Canadian lefty is believed to the be first Canadian and the first left-handed golfer in Mike Flecks' lengthy tenure as Ball State's head coach … his dad, Danny, was a hockey player and Braxton grew up honing his golf stroke as a youngster with his dad. Stroke average: 73.39 over 28 rounds
4. ALI KHAN (first name pronounced ALL-ee; last name pronounced KONN) … another junior who has become one of the Cardinals' steadiest golfers … he routinely finishes among Ball State's top three golfers … he boasts three Top-20 finishes, five Top-25 finishes and six in 26th place or better this year … he has twice turned a low round of 68 this year – in the second round of the Badger Invitational in October and again in the second round at Dorado Beach in late February … he has shot at least 3-under-par in four rounds this year … perhaps most impressive is his status on the Ball State campus where the Ball State University Foundation annually presents its Top 100 Students award based on academics, community and extracurricular accomplishment … the Top 100 Students award is voted upon by alumni around the country and Khan was voted among the University's Top 50 during the 2023-24 academic calendar. Stroke average: 73.69 over 26 rounds
5. ALEC CESARE (last name pronounced suh-ZARR-ay) … Cesare is a true freshman getting his first taste of Division I golf, and so far excelling … the Westfield native turned in one of his most impressive rounds of the year last Sunday, shooting par over 18 consecutive rounds at the Fighting Illini Spring Collegiate to post Ball State's best round (71) of the tournament … he shot a low-round of 68 at the Purdue Fall Invite, and again in the opening round at Dorado Beach in February while helping Ball State to a program-record 26-under-par showing as a team … he got his first Top-10 finish with a ninth-place result at the Badger Invitational in October … he owns two Top-20 finishes and three in the Top-25 … he has been in the Cardinals' starting lineup at each event this spring. Stroke average: 74.46 over 26 rounds
Additional Golfer JENSEN KLONDIKE … since his transfer from Bellarmine in September, the grad transfer has played in six events and 14 rounds for the Cardinals … he was Ball State's No. 5 golfer in the Fighting Illini Spring Collegiate last weekend, shooting 76-78-79—233 and finishing in 50th out of 59 participants … he has been steady in his 14 rounds and owns a low round of 67 while participating in The Cardinal Indy, an individual event last October … in fact, he shot 67-70—137 in that event conducted on Ball State's home course at Delaware Country Club, and after finishing second out of 24 participants he earned MAC Golfer of the Week accolades … Fleck refers to Klondike as "a quiet leader," whose maturity has helped many of Ball State's younger players, even in his short time with the program … no stranger to conference championship events, he competed the past four seasons in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Stroke average: 74.43 over 14 rounds
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The Cardinals need only travel an hour to compete in the annual tournament this year, conducted at The Club at Chatham Hills in nearby Westfield. Under 26th-year head coach Mike Fleck, the Cardinals have become annual contenders for the MAC crown, posting top-3 finishes nine times since 2005, including back-to-back runner-up finishes in 2017 and 2019. Fleck's 2023 contingent was his fifth squad to finish as MAC runners-up. Last year's team qualified for the first-ever National Golf Invitational, finishing fourth as a team with then-sophomore Kash Bellar claiming the title as the inaugural NGI champion.
This year, Bellar leads a stellar junior class into contention at the MAC Championships, with sophomore Carter Smith playing in the Cardinals' No. 1 position and freshman Alec Cesare holding down the No. 5 slot. Bellar competes at No. 2 in this week's lineup, followed by fellow juniors Braxton Kuntz and Ali Khan. Grad transfer Jensen Klondike will serve as the Cardinals' additional travel player.
Ball State enters the championship weekend following a fifth-place finish at last week's Fighting Illini Spring Collegiate which featured a track of more than 7,500 yards – Ball State's longest of the season. The Cardinals' 7-over par 291 last Sunday was the second-best score of the final round, enough to catapult Ball State past MAC rival Toledo, who finished sixth. Kuntz finished 12th in the event, Smith was 15th, and Cesare and Khan each were tied in 22nd place. Cesare, a Westfield native, will compete in his hometown this weekend after shooting 18 consecutive holes of par last Sunday.
Played on the par-72, 7,334-yard course at Chatham Hills, Toledo is the host of this weekend's MAC tournament, in accordance with the league's annual rotation. Besides topping the Rockets last weekend, Ball State bettered Toledo by two strokes in last year's MAC Championships to finish in second place. Northern Illinois (869) won last year's title with a four-stroke advantage over Ball State (873). Toledo (875) was third, Kent State was fourth (877), Miami (882) fifth and Central Michigan (890) sixth. Eastern Michigan (894), Ohio (900) and Bowling Green (904) rounded out last year's field.
Ball State Lineup at 2024 MAC Men's Golf Championships | The Club at Chatham Hills (par-72, 7,334 yards)
No. 1 – Carter Smith, So., Sellersburg, Ind. | 72.62 average, 26 rounds
No. 2 – Kash Bellar, Jr., Peru, Ind. | 73.42 average, 26 rounds
No. 3 – Braxton Kuntz, Jr., Winnepeg, Manitoba | 73.39 average, 28 rounds
No. 4 – Ali Khan, Jr., Columbus, Ohio | 73.69 average, 26 rounds
No. 5 – Alec Cesare, Fr., Westfield, Ind. | 74.46 average, 26 rounds
Additional – Jensen Klondike, Grad, Louisville, Ky. | 74.43 average, 14 rounds
BALL STATE MEN'S GOLF NOTEBOOK: MAC CHAMPIONSHIPS
PROGRAM IN GOOD HANDS THROUGH 26 YEARS: Cardinals coach Mike Fleck is one of 21 Division I coaches nationally to lead their respective institutions for 26 seasons or longer … a former Ball State player (1988-92), Fleck has guided the Cardinals to top-3 finishes in the MAC Championships nine times, with five runner-up finishes … he is hoping he can capture his first MAC title with his 2024 contingent … his lone trip to the NCAA Nationals came in 2013, 10 years ahead of last year's fourth-place national postseason finish at the National Golf Invitational … Fleck took over the reigns of the Ball State program in August 1998, replacing his own lengendary mentor, Earl Yestingsmeier, who guided Cardinal golfers for 36 years in his own right … as a player, Fleck earned five Top-15 finishes as a senior in 1992 … he graduated from Ball State in 1993 and served as an assistant coach with the Cardinals during the 1993-94 season … he was the head pro at Hickory Hills Club in Farmland, Indiana, for four years before returning to take over for his former coach.
FIVE TOP-5, EIGHT TOP-10 FINISHES: Out of 10 tournaments since September, the Cardinals have collected five Top-5 finishes and eight Top-10 outings, including last week's fifth-place finish at the Fighting Illini Spring Collegiate where Ball State finished behind Big Ten powers Illinois, Michigan State, Michigan and Northwestern. In addition to ten stroke-play events, the Cardinals earned top honors at the MAC/A-10 Challenge, conducted in South Florida, in early February. Other Top-5 finishes included a fourth-place result at the Golfweek Invitational in September and a champion finish at the Cardinals' Earl Yestingsmeier Invitational just a week later. Ball State used a record-setting first- and second-round at the Dorado Beach Collegiate in Puerto Rico, in late February, to earn a second-place finish behind UNC Greensboro.
PROGRAM RECORDS AT DORADO: The Cardinals' 28-under-par 36-hole score at the Dorado Beach Collegiate set a program record for the lowest 36-hole score, relative to par … before the final round was washed out by rain, Ball State shot a 12-under 276 in the first round, followed by a 16-under 272 in the second round … that 16-under score was also a program record for a single round … the Cardinals finished second to Top-40 ranked UNC Greensboro, with all five golfers finishing 36 holes at -2 or better.
YOUNG BUT EXPERIENCED: Ball State's roster is both young and experienced … its only seniors aren't regularly in the lineup at top events, and this week's lineup is led by a sophomore, three juniors and a freshman … the Cardinals' clear goal this year has been to win the MAC title and return to the NCAA championships for the first time since 2013 … last year's NGI appearance was a precursor to this year's success, and the addition of transfer Braxton Kuntz has given the Cardinals a deeper lineup … Carter Smith has been a steady leader atop the lineup at No. 1 or No. 2 in every lineup this season, and "gamer" Kash Bellar returns after winning the NGI last May … Kuntz has been the Cards' top scorer over the past month … Ali Khan has been steady at No. 3 or No. 4 all year … freshman Cesare has helped deepen the Ball State roster this year, adding a Top-10 and two Top-25 finishes in his first college season.
MAC GOLFERS OF THE WEEK: For the first time in Mike Fleck's coaching tenure, four different Ball State players have earned MAC Golfer of the Week accolades … in total, the Cardinals have captured the conference honor six times since September with Carter Smith garnering the award three times: Carter Smith (Sept. 7 & 13, Feb. 8), Kash Bellar (Oct. 5), Jensen Klondike (Oct. 26) and Braxton Kuntz (April 3).
ALL-TOURNAMENT RETURNEES: The Cardinals finished second at the 2023 MAC Championships behind the play of all-tournament golfers Kash Bellar and Carter Smith … Bellar (76-68-71—215) finished fourth at last year's event at 1-under par and just one stroke ahead of teammate Smith (76-70-70—216) who tied for fifth.
PLAYER NOTES
1. CARTER SMITH … sophomore has shown signs of consistently being Ball State's top golfer; he or Kash Bellar have played at No. 1 in every tournament, and he, Bellar or Braxton Kuntz has led the Cardinals in every event … in Ball State's opening tournament of the spring, a match play event at the MAC/A-10 Challenge in South Florida, he needed only 46 of 54 holes to complete his rounds … he was the No. 1 golfer on the top rated team who started each round on the first hole … he never played the 17th or 18th holes in any of three rounds, beating his opponent by the 16th hole each time … he has earned MAC Golfer of the Week three times since last fall … he boasts a pair of Top-5 finishes and four Top-25 finishes … he has twice shot a low round of 68 this year – in the third round of the Earl Yestingsmeier Invitational and again in the second round at Dorado Beach. Stroke average: 72.62 over 26 rounds
2. KASH BELLAR … junior who's biggest "fame" was winning the National Golf Invitational event last year, becoming the first champion of the inaugural event … Fleck calls him a gamer and he usually navigates his way toward the top of the leaderboard in any event … he's got three top-five finishes since last fall, including a fourth-place finish at the Dorado Beach Collegiate in Puerto Rico in February … his second-round 65 at Dorado Beach was Ball State's lowest round of the year – by three strokes! … he leads Ball State with three rounds of 4-under-par or better, and four at 3-under or better … the runner-up to Smith at the E.Y. Invitational in September, he owns three MAC Golfer of the Week honors over the past two seasons … he corralled a share of the weekly honor last fall after a fourth-place finish at the Badger Invitational. Stroke average: 73.42 over 26 rounds
3. BRAXTON KUNTZ … Cardinals' best scorer since April 1, with a 71.87 average over his last eight rounds … he was Ball State's top finisher in each of the Cardinals' last two events … on a difficult course at Auburn last month, Kuntz opened the tournament as the team's best golfer in a rugged first round … he struggled over the final two rounds and was chosen to play in an individual event at Butler University's Don Benbow Invitational just days before Vanderbilt's Mason Rudolph Championship (April 5-7) … rain washed out the final round of the Benbow Invite, but through two rounds on April 1, Kuntz finished in a tie for third place with a pair of 2-under 68s … they were his lowest rounds of the year, and the third-place finish was his first top-10 finish since joining the Ball State team as a transfer from Nicholls State … he has typically played out of the team's No. 4 position, but he played at No. 5 in Vandy's MRC and he emerged at No. 3 last week … Canadian lefty is believed to the be first Canadian and the first left-handed golfer in Mike Flecks' lengthy tenure as Ball State's head coach … his dad, Danny, was a hockey player and Braxton grew up honing his golf stroke as a youngster with his dad. Stroke average: 73.39 over 28 rounds
4. ALI KHAN (first name pronounced ALL-ee; last name pronounced KONN) … another junior who has become one of the Cardinals' steadiest golfers … he routinely finishes among Ball State's top three golfers … he boasts three Top-20 finishes, five Top-25 finishes and six in 26th place or better this year … he has twice turned a low round of 68 this year – in the second round of the Badger Invitational in October and again in the second round at Dorado Beach in late February … he has shot at least 3-under-par in four rounds this year … perhaps most impressive is his status on the Ball State campus where the Ball State University Foundation annually presents its Top 100 Students award based on academics, community and extracurricular accomplishment … the Top 100 Students award is voted upon by alumni around the country and Khan was voted among the University's Top 50 during the 2023-24 academic calendar. Stroke average: 73.69 over 26 rounds
5. ALEC CESARE (last name pronounced suh-ZARR-ay) … Cesare is a true freshman getting his first taste of Division I golf, and so far excelling … the Westfield native turned in one of his most impressive rounds of the year last Sunday, shooting par over 18 consecutive rounds at the Fighting Illini Spring Collegiate to post Ball State's best round (71) of the tournament … he shot a low-round of 68 at the Purdue Fall Invite, and again in the opening round at Dorado Beach in February while helping Ball State to a program-record 26-under-par showing as a team … he got his first Top-10 finish with a ninth-place result at the Badger Invitational in October … he owns two Top-20 finishes and three in the Top-25 … he has been in the Cardinals' starting lineup at each event this spring. Stroke average: 74.46 over 26 rounds
Additional Golfer JENSEN KLONDIKE … since his transfer from Bellarmine in September, the grad transfer has played in six events and 14 rounds for the Cardinals … he was Ball State's No. 5 golfer in the Fighting Illini Spring Collegiate last weekend, shooting 76-78-79—233 and finishing in 50th out of 59 participants … he has been steady in his 14 rounds and owns a low round of 67 while participating in The Cardinal Indy, an individual event last October … in fact, he shot 67-70—137 in that event conducted on Ball State's home course at Delaware Country Club, and after finishing second out of 24 participants he earned MAC Golfer of the Week accolades … Fleck refers to Klondike as "a quiet leader," whose maturity has helped many of Ball State's younger players, even in his short time with the program … no stranger to conference championship events, he competed the past four seasons in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Stroke average: 74.43 over 14 rounds
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