Ball State University Athletics
Men's Golf Team Begins Preparation for NCAA Chapel Hill Regional Which Begins Monday
May 10, 2024 | Men's Golf
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State men's golf team flies to North Carolina today to begin weekend preparation for competition in the 13-team NCAA Regional hosted by the University of North Carolina. Played at the par-70, 7,084-yard UNC Finley Golf Club, the Chapel Hill Regional is one of six NCAA regional sites that welcome 81 teams to the NCAA men's golf championship.
The Cardinals, champions of the Mid-American Conference, boast a lineup with no seniors yet one that plays with experience. Led by sophomores a year ago, Ball State finished second in the MAC prior to reaching the National Golf Invitational and finishing fourth. Then-sophomore Kash Bellar won the national postseason event to whet the Cardinals' appetite for an extended postseason in 2024.
The 2024 postseason begins this week, following the Cardinals' march through the MAC Championships two weeks ago. Head coach Mike Fleck, the MAC Coach of the Year, now works with a lineup comprised of three juniors plus a sophomore and a freshman. Ball State enters Monday's NCAA first round as the No. 12 seed in a region anchored by national powers North Carolina, Alabama and Georgia Tech. It is the Cardinals' first appearance in an NCAA regional since 2013 when Ball State finished fifth in Pullman, Washington, and advanced to the NCAA national tournament in Atlanta. Just as in 2013, the top five teams in this week's regional advance to the NCAA national championship event in Carlsbad, Calif., May 24-29.
Bellar, now a junior, and sophomore Carter Smith lead the Cardinals, having competed atop the five-man lineup every week since the season began at the Golfweek Invitational last September. Smith was named a first-team All-MAC honoree last week to become Ball State's first first-teamer since 2015. Bellar earned second-team All-MAC accolades for the second straight season. He finished fourth in the MAC Championships in two straight seasons and garnered All-Tournament honors each year, too.
Together, the duo is stamping its name in the Ball State record book – Bellar's 71.94 average last season is currently second in Ball State history and Smith's 72.55 average this year is third.
Junior Ali Khan, another All-MAC second-team honoree, tied with Bellar to finish fourth at the MAC Championships. He lines up in the Cardinals' No. 3 position, just ahead of another junior, Braxton Kuntz. Kuntz, a lefty transfer from Nicholls State, is the first Canadian ever to play for Ball State, and he enters the Chapel Hill Regional after shooting a 6-under 66 last week to advance in local U.S. Open qualification.
Rounding out the Ball State lineup is a freshman, Alec Cesare, who lines up in the No. 5 lineup spot. Cesare, though, finished eighth at the MAC Championships and has paced the Cardinals on the final day in three of their last four tournaments.
Ball State Lineup at 2024 NCAA Chapel Hill Regional | UNC Finley Golf Club (par-70, 7,084 yards)
No. 1 – Carter Smith, So., Sellersburg, Ind. | 72.55 average, 29 rounds
No. 2 – Kash Bellar, Jr., Peru, Ind. | 73.14 average, 29 rounds
No. 3 – Ali Khan, Jr., Columbus, Ohio | 73.38 average, 29 rounds
No. 4 – Braxton Kuntz, Jr., Winnepeg, Manitoba | 73.58 average, 31 rounds
No. 5 – Alec Cesare, Fr., Westfield, Ind. | 74.14 average, 29 rounds
Additional – Jensen Klondike, Grad, Louisville, Ky. | 74.43 average, 14 rounds
BALL STATE MEN'S GOLF NOTEBOOK: NCAA CHAPEL HILL REGIONAL
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 10 times, with five runner-up finishes … the 2024 MAC Coach of the Year, he captured his first MAC title, April 6-8 at The Club at Chatham Hills in nearby Westfield … 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.
ONE OF FOUR WITH 20+ COACHING YEARS AS PART OF CHAPEL HILL REGIONAL: Fleck is one of four coaches participating in this week's regional lineup with more than 20 years as head coach of their respective insitutions: Bruce Heppler, Georgia Tech (29), Pat Goss, Northwestern (27), Mike Fleck, Ball State (26) and Jay Seawell, Alabama (22).
MAC RECAP: The Cardinals outdistanced Miami University by five strokes to capture their first MAC Championship since 1986 ... four Ball State golfers finished in the tournament's top 11 finishers, with Kash Bellar and Ali Khan tying for fourth place, Alec Cesare finishing eighth while playing in his hometown, and Carter Smith placing 11th ... playing at No. 5 in the Cards' lineup, freshman Cesare led Ball State with a 2-under par 70 on Championship Sunday ... Ball State and Miami were tied after the opening round, Ball State led by three strokes after two rounds.
ALL-MAC ACCOLADES: Mike Fleck was named the league's Coach of the Year, and during the MAC Championships, Kash Bellar and Ali Khan earned All-Tournament honors ... for the season, Carter Smith was a first-team All-MAC honoree, with Bellar and Khan each being named to the second team.
KUNTZ MAKES U.S. OPEN NEWS: Multiple Cardinals played in U.S. Open local qualifiers last week, between Indianapolis and Columbus, Ohio ... Canadian Braxton Kuntz fired a 6-under 66 at Broadmoor Country Club in Indy to capture one of five spots to reach final qualfying for the 124th U.S. Open, June 13-16. Teammate Kash Bellar was a stroke behind at -5, and Alec Cesare was two strokes back at -4.
CARDS' CALLING CARD - DEPTH: From No. 1 to No. 5 in the Ball State lineup, Ball State plays with depth and the ability to score low rounds.
* Braxton Kuntz is a good example of Ball State's depth ... playing usually as the Cardinals' No. 4 golfer, the transfer from Nicholls State averaged a 71.87 over his last eight rounds of the regular season to pace the Cardinals during April ... he was Ball State's top golfer in its two events leading into the MAC Championships ... while he was fifth on the club during the MAC Championships, he topped all participating Ball State players in last week's U.S. Open local qualifier by shooting a 6-under 66 at Broadmoor Country Club.
** No. 5 golfer Alec Cesare is another example ... the freshman led Ball State in the final round during three of the Cardinals' last four tournaments ... he shot a 2-under par 70 on the final day of the MAC Championships ... he completed 18 consecutive holes of par on the final day of the Fighting Illini Spring Collegiate, firing an even-par 71 for Ball State's low round of the tournament ... at Auburn's Tiger Invitational in March, his 73 on the final day matched Carter Smith.
*** Just 1.59 strokes separate Ball State's top average (Carter Smith, 72.55) from its lowest (Alec Cesare, 74.14), from among its starting lineup.
**** Carter Smith, Kash Bellar, Ali Khan and Braxton Kuntz all have led the Cardinals in at least one of their stroke-play tournaments this season.
SIX TOP-5, NINE TOP-10 FINISHES: Out of 11 tournaments since September, the Cardinals have collected six Top-5 finishes and nine Top-10 outings, including the 2024 MAC Championship ... only a week earlier, the Cardinals earned a 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 additions of transfer Braxton Kuntz and freshman Alec Cesare have 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 was the Cards' top scorer over the month of April … Ali Khan has been steady at No. 3 or No. 4 all year … freshman Cesare has helped deepen the Ball State roster, adding two Top-10 and three 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).
No. 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 ... selected first-team All-MAC, Ball State's first first-teamer since 2015 ... his 72.55 stroke average currently ranks third among Ball State single-season averages, and his 72.96 career average currently sits as Ball State's third-best two-year total … 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 five Top-25 finishes … the individual champion of Ball State's Earl Yestingsmeier Invitational in September, he has twice shot a low round of 68 this year – in the third round of the EY Invite and again in the second round at Dorado Beach ... his 65-65-68---199 at Butler University's 2023 Don Benbow Invitational set Ball State records for low rounds over 36 holes and 54 holes. Stroke average: 72.55 over 29 rounds
No. 2. KASH BELLAR (last name pronounced BELL-er)… 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 … second-team All-MAC in each of the past two seasons ... his 71.94 average in 2022-23 was the second-best season average in Cardinals history, and his current 72.93 three-year total ranks second in Ball State history ... he's got four top-five finishes since last fall, including a fourth-place finish in the MAC Championships at the Dorado Beach Collegiate in Puerto Rico in February … his fourth-place finish and All-Tournament selection at the 2024 MAC Championships duplicated his effort from the 2023 MAC Championships ... his second-round 65 at Dorado Beach was Ball State's lowest round of the year … he leads Ball State with three rounds of 4-under-par or better, and five 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: 73.14 over 29 rounds
No. 3. ALI KHAN (first name pronounced ALL-ee; last name pronounced KONN) … another junior who has become one of the Cardinals' steadiest golfers … selected second-team All-MAC ... he routinely finishes among Ball State's top three golfers … he boasts four Top-20 finishes, six Top-25 finishes and seven in 26th place or better this year … his fourth-place tie at the MAC Championships was the best finish of his career, and his Championship Sunday was on pace for the best round of his career with five birdies and a 5-under score through 14 holes ... he finished the day at par, after two rounds of 2-under 70 to rank among the tournament leaders all weekend ... 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: 73.38 over 29 rounds
4. BRAXTON KUNTZ … Cardinals' best scorer with a 71.87 average over his last eight rounds leading into the MAC Championships ... following the MAC Championships, he fired a 6-under 66 at Broadmoor Country Club in Indianapolis to finish in the top five in a local qualifier for the U.S. Open ... shooting his lowest round of the year, he advanced to a second-stage final qualifying event for the U.S. Open that plays in June … he was Ball State's top finisher in each of the Cardinals' last two events prior to the MAC Championships … 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 college season, 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 at the Fighting Illini Spring Collegiate … Canadian lefty is the first Canadian 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: 73.58 over 31 rounds
5. ALEC CESARE (last name pronounced SEE-zur; like Caesar) … Cesare is a true freshman getting his first taste of Division I golf, and he has excelled ... in fact, he has turned in the Cardinals' best round on the final day of three of their last four tournaments … at the MAC Championships, played in his hometown of Westfield, Indiana, his 2-under par 70 on Championship Sunday was Ball State's best round of the day while securing the MAC title ... he turned in one of his most impressive rounds of the year on the final day of the Fighting Illini Spring Collegiate, shooting par over 18 consecutive holes 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, and he added another with an eighth-place finish at the MAC Championships … he owns three Top-20 finishes and four in the Top-25 … he has been in the Cardinals' starting lineup at each event this spring. Stroke average: 74.14 over 29 rounds
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, shooting 76-78-79—233 and finishing 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 … he competed the past four seasons in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Stroke average: 74.43 over 14 rounds
The Cardinals, champions of the Mid-American Conference, boast a lineup with no seniors yet one that plays with experience. Led by sophomores a year ago, Ball State finished second in the MAC prior to reaching the National Golf Invitational and finishing fourth. Then-sophomore Kash Bellar won the national postseason event to whet the Cardinals' appetite for an extended postseason in 2024.
The 2024 postseason begins this week, following the Cardinals' march through the MAC Championships two weeks ago. Head coach Mike Fleck, the MAC Coach of the Year, now works with a lineup comprised of three juniors plus a sophomore and a freshman. Ball State enters Monday's NCAA first round as the No. 12 seed in a region anchored by national powers North Carolina, Alabama and Georgia Tech. It is the Cardinals' first appearance in an NCAA regional since 2013 when Ball State finished fifth in Pullman, Washington, and advanced to the NCAA national tournament in Atlanta. Just as in 2013, the top five teams in this week's regional advance to the NCAA national championship event in Carlsbad, Calif., May 24-29.
Bellar, now a junior, and sophomore Carter Smith lead the Cardinals, having competed atop the five-man lineup every week since the season began at the Golfweek Invitational last September. Smith was named a first-team All-MAC honoree last week to become Ball State's first first-teamer since 2015. Bellar earned second-team All-MAC accolades for the second straight season. He finished fourth in the MAC Championships in two straight seasons and garnered All-Tournament honors each year, too.
Together, the duo is stamping its name in the Ball State record book – Bellar's 71.94 average last season is currently second in Ball State history and Smith's 72.55 average this year is third.
Junior Ali Khan, another All-MAC second-team honoree, tied with Bellar to finish fourth at the MAC Championships. He lines up in the Cardinals' No. 3 position, just ahead of another junior, Braxton Kuntz. Kuntz, a lefty transfer from Nicholls State, is the first Canadian ever to play for Ball State, and he enters the Chapel Hill Regional after shooting a 6-under 66 last week to advance in local U.S. Open qualification.
Rounding out the Ball State lineup is a freshman, Alec Cesare, who lines up in the No. 5 lineup spot. Cesare, though, finished eighth at the MAC Championships and has paced the Cardinals on the final day in three of their last four tournaments.
Ball State Lineup at 2024 NCAA Chapel Hill Regional | UNC Finley Golf Club (par-70, 7,084 yards)
No. 1 – Carter Smith, So., Sellersburg, Ind. | 72.55 average, 29 rounds
No. 2 – Kash Bellar, Jr., Peru, Ind. | 73.14 average, 29 rounds
No. 3 – Ali Khan, Jr., Columbus, Ohio | 73.38 average, 29 rounds
No. 4 – Braxton Kuntz, Jr., Winnepeg, Manitoba | 73.58 average, 31 rounds
No. 5 – Alec Cesare, Fr., Westfield, Ind. | 74.14 average, 29 rounds
Additional – Jensen Klondike, Grad, Louisville, Ky. | 74.43 average, 14 rounds
BALL STATE MEN'S GOLF NOTEBOOK: NCAA CHAPEL HILL REGIONAL
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 10 times, with five runner-up finishes … the 2024 MAC Coach of the Year, he captured his first MAC title, April 6-8 at The Club at Chatham Hills in nearby Westfield … 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.
ONE OF FOUR WITH 20+ COACHING YEARS AS PART OF CHAPEL HILL REGIONAL: Fleck is one of four coaches participating in this week's regional lineup with more than 20 years as head coach of their respective insitutions: Bruce Heppler, Georgia Tech (29), Pat Goss, Northwestern (27), Mike Fleck, Ball State (26) and Jay Seawell, Alabama (22).
MAC RECAP: The Cardinals outdistanced Miami University by five strokes to capture their first MAC Championship since 1986 ... four Ball State golfers finished in the tournament's top 11 finishers, with Kash Bellar and Ali Khan tying for fourth place, Alec Cesare finishing eighth while playing in his hometown, and Carter Smith placing 11th ... playing at No. 5 in the Cards' lineup, freshman Cesare led Ball State with a 2-under par 70 on Championship Sunday ... Ball State and Miami were tied after the opening round, Ball State led by three strokes after two rounds.
ALL-MAC ACCOLADES: Mike Fleck was named the league's Coach of the Year, and during the MAC Championships, Kash Bellar and Ali Khan earned All-Tournament honors ... for the season, Carter Smith was a first-team All-MAC honoree, with Bellar and Khan each being named to the second team.
KUNTZ MAKES U.S. OPEN NEWS: Multiple Cardinals played in U.S. Open local qualifiers last week, between Indianapolis and Columbus, Ohio ... Canadian Braxton Kuntz fired a 6-under 66 at Broadmoor Country Club in Indy to capture one of five spots to reach final qualfying for the 124th U.S. Open, June 13-16. Teammate Kash Bellar was a stroke behind at -5, and Alec Cesare was two strokes back at -4.
CARDS' CALLING CARD - DEPTH: From No. 1 to No. 5 in the Ball State lineup, Ball State plays with depth and the ability to score low rounds.
* Braxton Kuntz is a good example of Ball State's depth ... playing usually as the Cardinals' No. 4 golfer, the transfer from Nicholls State averaged a 71.87 over his last eight rounds of the regular season to pace the Cardinals during April ... he was Ball State's top golfer in its two events leading into the MAC Championships ... while he was fifth on the club during the MAC Championships, he topped all participating Ball State players in last week's U.S. Open local qualifier by shooting a 6-under 66 at Broadmoor Country Club.
** No. 5 golfer Alec Cesare is another example ... the freshman led Ball State in the final round during three of the Cardinals' last four tournaments ... he shot a 2-under par 70 on the final day of the MAC Championships ... he completed 18 consecutive holes of par on the final day of the Fighting Illini Spring Collegiate, firing an even-par 71 for Ball State's low round of the tournament ... at Auburn's Tiger Invitational in March, his 73 on the final day matched Carter Smith.
*** Just 1.59 strokes separate Ball State's top average (Carter Smith, 72.55) from its lowest (Alec Cesare, 74.14), from among its starting lineup.
**** Carter Smith, Kash Bellar, Ali Khan and Braxton Kuntz all have led the Cardinals in at least one of their stroke-play tournaments this season.
SIX TOP-5, NINE TOP-10 FINISHES: Out of 11 tournaments since September, the Cardinals have collected six Top-5 finishes and nine Top-10 outings, including the 2024 MAC Championship ... only a week earlier, the Cardinals earned a 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 additions of transfer Braxton Kuntz and freshman Alec Cesare have 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 was the Cards' top scorer over the month of April … Ali Khan has been steady at No. 3 or No. 4 all year … freshman Cesare has helped deepen the Ball State roster, adding two Top-10 and three 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).
No. 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 ... selected first-team All-MAC, Ball State's first first-teamer since 2015 ... his 72.55 stroke average currently ranks third among Ball State single-season averages, and his 72.96 career average currently sits as Ball State's third-best two-year total … 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 five Top-25 finishes … the individual champion of Ball State's Earl Yestingsmeier Invitational in September, he has twice shot a low round of 68 this year – in the third round of the EY Invite and again in the second round at Dorado Beach ... his 65-65-68---199 at Butler University's 2023 Don Benbow Invitational set Ball State records for low rounds over 36 holes and 54 holes. Stroke average: 72.55 over 29 rounds
No. 2. KASH BELLAR (last name pronounced BELL-er)… 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 … second-team All-MAC in each of the past two seasons ... his 71.94 average in 2022-23 was the second-best season average in Cardinals history, and his current 72.93 three-year total ranks second in Ball State history ... he's got four top-five finishes since last fall, including a fourth-place finish in the MAC Championships at the Dorado Beach Collegiate in Puerto Rico in February … his fourth-place finish and All-Tournament selection at the 2024 MAC Championships duplicated his effort from the 2023 MAC Championships ... his second-round 65 at Dorado Beach was Ball State's lowest round of the year … he leads Ball State with three rounds of 4-under-par or better, and five 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: 73.14 over 29 rounds
No. 3. ALI KHAN (first name pronounced ALL-ee; last name pronounced KONN) … another junior who has become one of the Cardinals' steadiest golfers … selected second-team All-MAC ... he routinely finishes among Ball State's top three golfers … he boasts four Top-20 finishes, six Top-25 finishes and seven in 26th place or better this year … his fourth-place tie at the MAC Championships was the best finish of his career, and his Championship Sunday was on pace for the best round of his career with five birdies and a 5-under score through 14 holes ... he finished the day at par, after two rounds of 2-under 70 to rank among the tournament leaders all weekend ... 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: 73.38 over 29 rounds
4. BRAXTON KUNTZ … Cardinals' best scorer with a 71.87 average over his last eight rounds leading into the MAC Championships ... following the MAC Championships, he fired a 6-under 66 at Broadmoor Country Club in Indianapolis to finish in the top five in a local qualifier for the U.S. Open ... shooting his lowest round of the year, he advanced to a second-stage final qualifying event for the U.S. Open that plays in June … he was Ball State's top finisher in each of the Cardinals' last two events prior to the MAC Championships … 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 college season, 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 at the Fighting Illini Spring Collegiate … Canadian lefty is the first Canadian 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: 73.58 over 31 rounds
5. ALEC CESARE (last name pronounced SEE-zur; like Caesar) … Cesare is a true freshman getting his first taste of Division I golf, and he has excelled ... in fact, he has turned in the Cardinals' best round on the final day of three of their last four tournaments … at the MAC Championships, played in his hometown of Westfield, Indiana, his 2-under par 70 on Championship Sunday was Ball State's best round of the day while securing the MAC title ... he turned in one of his most impressive rounds of the year on the final day of the Fighting Illini Spring Collegiate, shooting par over 18 consecutive holes 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, and he added another with an eighth-place finish at the MAC Championships … he owns three Top-20 finishes and four in the Top-25 … he has been in the Cardinals' starting lineup at each event this spring. Stroke average: 74.14 over 29 rounds
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, shooting 76-78-79—233 and finishing 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 … he competed the past four seasons in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Stroke average: 74.43 over 14 rounds
Players Mentioned
Sports Link // Cardinal Conversations with Carter Smith & Jeff Mitchell
Tuesday, March 17
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