Ball State University Athletics
Photo by: Michael Hickey
Cardinals to Play in NCAA Regional at Chapel Hill, N.C., May 13-15
May 01, 2024 | Men's Golf
MUNCIE, Ind. – Playing as the champions of the Mid-American Conference, the Ball State men's golf team will play in the Chapel Hill Regional at the UNC Finley Golf Course, May 13-15, as announced today by the NCAA. The Cardinals earned a No. 12 seed, in a regional featuring 13 teams and 10 individuals not among those teams.
The Cardinals make their first NCAA Regional appearance since an at-large berth in 2013. Ball State plays as one of 81 teams at an NCAA regional site, with hope to be one of 30 teams to qualify for the NCAA national championships, May 24-29 in at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California.
Regionals are conducted at six sites – three of which will host 13 teams and 10 individuals (not on qualifying teams), the other three hosting 14 teams and five individuals (not on those teams). Other sites hosting regionals this year are Austin, Texas; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Rancho Santa Fe, California; Stanford, California; and West Lafayette, Indiana.
"I'm just so excited for this group to have the opportunity to continue in the postseason and play in one of the NCAA regionals, with the chance to move on to the finals," said 26th-year head coach Mike Fleck who was named the MAC's Coach of the Year. "They have worked hard, and battled through a challenging and competitive schedule while proving they are one of the top teams around. We are not done yet. We are excited to keep competing."
For Fleck, it is his second trip to NCAA competition as a coach, having guided the 2013 club to a regional appearance in Pullman, Washington, then qualifying for the national tournament in Atlanta. It is Fleck's third national postseason appearance, following last year's squad that qualified as a team for the inaugural National Golf Invitational conducted in Maricopa, Arizona. The Cardinals finished fourth as a team, with Kash Bellar finishing as the individual champion.
Bellar, Carter Smith and Ali Khan all competed in last year's fourth-place finish in the NGI. Bellar and Khan each earned honors last weekend on the MAC Championships All-Tournament Team. The Cardinals' lineup also includes 2023-24 newcomers Alec Cesare, a freshman, and Braxton Kuntz, a junior transfer.
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The Cardinals make their first NCAA Regional appearance since an at-large berth in 2013. Ball State plays as one of 81 teams at an NCAA regional site, with hope to be one of 30 teams to qualify for the NCAA national championships, May 24-29 in at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California.
Regionals are conducted at six sites – three of which will host 13 teams and 10 individuals (not on qualifying teams), the other three hosting 14 teams and five individuals (not on those teams). Other sites hosting regionals this year are Austin, Texas; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Rancho Santa Fe, California; Stanford, California; and West Lafayette, Indiana.
"I'm just so excited for this group to have the opportunity to continue in the postseason and play in one of the NCAA regionals, with the chance to move on to the finals," said 26th-year head coach Mike Fleck who was named the MAC's Coach of the Year. "They have worked hard, and battled through a challenging and competitive schedule while proving they are one of the top teams around. We are not done yet. We are excited to keep competing."
For Fleck, it is his second trip to NCAA competition as a coach, having guided the 2013 club to a regional appearance in Pullman, Washington, then qualifying for the national tournament in Atlanta. It is Fleck's third national postseason appearance, following last year's squad that qualified as a team for the inaugural National Golf Invitational conducted in Maricopa, Arizona. The Cardinals finished fourth as a team, with Kash Bellar finishing as the individual champion.
Bellar, Carter Smith and Ali Khan all competed in last year's fourth-place finish in the NGI. Bellar and Khan each earned honors last weekend on the MAC Championships All-Tournament Team. The Cardinals' lineup also includes 2023-24 newcomers Alec Cesare, a freshman, and Braxton Kuntz, a junior transfer.
Follow the Cardinals
Players Mentioned
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Heart of the Cardinal Podcast // Guests: Mike Fleck and Alauna Simms
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Heart of the Cardinal Podcast // Mike Fleck on Program Approach
Saturday, December 13
Sports Link: International Student Athlete Day
Monday, November 17