Ball State University Athletics
Friday, April 5
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Mason Rudolph Championship
Photo by: Josh Shelton
Kuntz Finishes On Top Of Cardinals' Leaderboard at Mason Rudolph Championship
April 07, 2024 | Men's Golf
FRANKLIN, Tenn. – Vanderbilt Legends Club remained elusive for Ball State on Sunday in the final round of the Mason Rudolph Championship, with junior Braxton Kuntz the only Cardinals golfer to shoot 75 or better in all three rounds of the event.
On the par-71, 7,112-yard track against top-ranked competition, Kuntz, who fired a pair of 1-over-par 72s in the opening rounds, then settled into 33rd place after carding a 4-over-par 75 on Sunday. The Canadian lefty was consistent in the second round with 15 of 18 holes at par or better. He nearly matched the feat again Sunday, finishing with 14 of 18 at par or better after a bogey on the par-5 18th hole.
Aside from Kuntz (72-72-75—219), who played out of the Cardinals' No. 5 lineup position despite earning honors last week as the Mid-American Conference Golfer of the Week, Ball State golfers struggled to master the championship course.
Carter Smith (69-80-74—223), playing at No. 1, fired a 2-under 69 on Friday but was +9 on Saturday. He recovered to lead Ball State while shooting +3 on Sunday to finish second overall to Kuntz.
"After the first round, I thought we had something to build from but unfortunately that didn't happen," said head coach Mike Fleck. "We talk about having a complete team effort to compete at this level where we want and expect to be, along with being consistent. Those things didn't happen this week."
Easing his frustration, Fleck continued, "Fortunately, we have some time to forget about this one and get things corrected before Illinois and the MAC Championships." Ball State is idle this week, before resuming play at the Fighting Illini Spring Invite, April 20-21.
Ball State Individual Results, through Round 2
No. 5 Braxton Kuntz (219): 34-38—72 | 37-35--72 | 36-39--75 (+6, 33rd)
No. 1 Carter Smith (223): 34-35—69 | 41-39—80 | 35-39--74 (+10, 51st)
No. 4 Alec Cesare (231): 38-42—80 | 39-33—72 | 38-41--79 (+18, 67th)
No. 3 Ali Khan (232): 36-37—73 | 43-39—82 | 38-39--77 (+19, 69th)
No. 2 Kash Bellar (234): 38-38—76 | 42-36—78 | 37-43--80 (+21, 72nd)
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On the par-71, 7,112-yard track against top-ranked competition, Kuntz, who fired a pair of 1-over-par 72s in the opening rounds, then settled into 33rd place after carding a 4-over-par 75 on Sunday. The Canadian lefty was consistent in the second round with 15 of 18 holes at par or better. He nearly matched the feat again Sunday, finishing with 14 of 18 at par or better after a bogey on the par-5 18th hole.
Aside from Kuntz (72-72-75—219), who played out of the Cardinals' No. 5 lineup position despite earning honors last week as the Mid-American Conference Golfer of the Week, Ball State golfers struggled to master the championship course.
Carter Smith (69-80-74—223), playing at No. 1, fired a 2-under 69 on Friday but was +9 on Saturday. He recovered to lead Ball State while shooting +3 on Sunday to finish second overall to Kuntz.
"After the first round, I thought we had something to build from but unfortunately that didn't happen," said head coach Mike Fleck. "We talk about having a complete team effort to compete at this level where we want and expect to be, along with being consistent. Those things didn't happen this week."
Easing his frustration, Fleck continued, "Fortunately, we have some time to forget about this one and get things corrected before Illinois and the MAC Championships." Ball State is idle this week, before resuming play at the Fighting Illini Spring Invite, April 20-21.
Ball State Individual Results, through Round 2
No. 5 Braxton Kuntz (219): 34-38—72 | 37-35--72 | 36-39--75 (+6, 33rd)
No. 1 Carter Smith (223): 34-35—69 | 41-39—80 | 35-39--74 (+10, 51st)
No. 4 Alec Cesare (231): 38-42—80 | 39-33—72 | 38-41--79 (+18, 67th)
No. 3 Ali Khan (232): 36-37—73 | 43-39—82 | 38-39--77 (+19, 69th)
No. 2 Kash Bellar (234): 38-38—76 | 42-36—78 | 37-43--80 (+21, 72nd)
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