Happy Gilmore Enters Ball State Lineup as Men's Golf Team Travels to Badger Invitational
September 28, 2024 | Men's Golf
MUNCIE, Ind. -- After two strong performances to begin his collegiate career, Ball State golfer Happy Gilmore makes his starting debut this week when the Cardinals travel to Madison, Wisconsin, to participate in the University of Wisconsin's Badger Invitational.
Gilmore played as an individual in both the Golfweek "Put Me In Coach" Invitational two weeks ago, and last week's Purdue Fall Invite. He finished third in both events and sports a 70.5 stroke average after four round at par or below in his first six rounds of college golf.
Gilmore, twice under par last week, shot arguably the team's best rounds at Purdue. He will join the lineup this week in place of sophomore Avery Mahoney who shot Ball State's low round (par 72) in last week's first round at Purdue, but slipped in two rounds after. While the Cardinals slipped in last week's second round, they recovered during Monday's final round with seniors Ali Khan, Braxton Kuntz and Kash Bellar all firing 70 or better on the par-72 track as Ball State posted the tournament's best round of the day.
"We look to build off that last round at Purdue where we were the low team score of the day," said 27th-year Ball State men's golf coach Mike Fleck. "We know it's in there and this squad is fully capable of producing low numbers. I'm excited to see us continue to compete and fight at Wisconsin. Our two freshmen are growing and gaining valuable experience and our veterans are coming around. If we connect as a squad, it should make for a competitive and successful event in Madison."
After his showing on an adjacent course in West Lafayette, Gilmore was rewarded with a spot among this week's starters, and returning junior Carter Smith qualified for this week's Badger event in a mid-week qualification day with Gilmore's freshman counterpart, Gavin Hare.
Hare, 5th and 20th in the two individual events behind Gilmore, will play this week as an individual again.
The Cardinals will play 18 holes on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, at par-72, 7,286-yard University Ridge Golf Course. Tee times on Sunday and Monday will begin at 10:30 a.m. ET off Holes 1 and 10. Tuesday will begin at 10:30 a.m. ET with a shotgun start.
Besides Ball State and host Wisconsin, the 16-team field includes Green Bay, Illinois State, Long Beach State, Memphis, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northern Illinois, South Dakota State, Southern Illinois, Southern Miss, VCU, Washington State, Western Kentucky and Winthrop.
Ball State Lineup for Badger Invitational, Sunday, Sept. 29 to Tuesday, Oct. 1
No. 1 -Â Braxton Kuntz, Sr., Winnipeg, Manitoba
No. 2 - Ali Khan, R-Sr., Columbus, Ohio
No. 3 - Kash Bellar, Sr., Peru, Ind.
No. 4 - Happy Gilmore, Fr., Bloomington, Ind.
No. 5 - Carter Smith, Jr., Sellersburg, Ind.
Individual - Gavin Hare, Fr. | Tipton, Ind.
Â
Gilmore played as an individual in both the Golfweek "Put Me In Coach" Invitational two weeks ago, and last week's Purdue Fall Invite. He finished third in both events and sports a 70.5 stroke average after four round at par or below in his first six rounds of college golf.
Gilmore, twice under par last week, shot arguably the team's best rounds at Purdue. He will join the lineup this week in place of sophomore Avery Mahoney who shot Ball State's low round (par 72) in last week's first round at Purdue, but slipped in two rounds after. While the Cardinals slipped in last week's second round, they recovered during Monday's final round with seniors Ali Khan, Braxton Kuntz and Kash Bellar all firing 70 or better on the par-72 track as Ball State posted the tournament's best round of the day.
"We look to build off that last round at Purdue where we were the low team score of the day," said 27th-year Ball State men's golf coach Mike Fleck. "We know it's in there and this squad is fully capable of producing low numbers. I'm excited to see us continue to compete and fight at Wisconsin. Our two freshmen are growing and gaining valuable experience and our veterans are coming around. If we connect as a squad, it should make for a competitive and successful event in Madison."
After his showing on an adjacent course in West Lafayette, Gilmore was rewarded with a spot among this week's starters, and returning junior Carter Smith qualified for this week's Badger event in a mid-week qualification day with Gilmore's freshman counterpart, Gavin Hare.
Hare, 5th and 20th in the two individual events behind Gilmore, will play this week as an individual again.
The Cardinals will play 18 holes on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, at par-72, 7,286-yard University Ridge Golf Course. Tee times on Sunday and Monday will begin at 10:30 a.m. ET off Holes 1 and 10. Tuesday will begin at 10:30 a.m. ET with a shotgun start.
Besides Ball State and host Wisconsin, the 16-team field includes Green Bay, Illinois State, Long Beach State, Memphis, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northern Illinois, South Dakota State, Southern Illinois, Southern Miss, VCU, Washington State, Western Kentucky and Winthrop.
Ball State Lineup for Badger Invitational, Sunday, Sept. 29 to Tuesday, Oct. 1
No. 1 -Â Braxton Kuntz, Sr., Winnipeg, Manitoba
No. 2 - Ali Khan, R-Sr., Columbus, Ohio
No. 3 - Kash Bellar, Sr., Peru, Ind.
No. 4 - Happy Gilmore, Fr., Bloomington, Ind.
No. 5 - Carter Smith, Jr., Sellersburg, Ind.
Individual - Gavin Hare, Fr. | Tipton, Ind.
Â
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