Ball State University Athletics
Photo by: Josh Shelton
Mahoney Leads Balanced Lineup and Strong Second Round at Boilermaker Invitational
April 19, 2025 | Men's Golf
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Avery Mahoney shot his best round of the season and Ball State finished a strong second round to leave the Cardinals in eighth place through two rounds at the Boilermaker Invitational at Purdue's Ackerman-Allen Golf Course.
A sophomore transfer who starred last year at Eastern Michigan, Mahoney is playing his best golf the year down the stretch this month, after managing an injured back in the fall. He shot 70 in an individual tournament on March 22, and his 68 in today's second round was the second-best round of his college career -- tops while wearing Ball State's red and white. Starting on the 10th hole in a shotgun start in both rounds Saturday, Mahoney began his second round with birdies on #10 and #16, then added another on #2 and #8. He finished the day even on the par-4 ninth hole. His only blemish in the round was a bogey on the par-4 18th.
Despite a 6-over par 77 in his first trip around the par-71, 7,275-yard course, Mahoney (77-68--145) paced a veteran Cardinals' lineup which placed 4 of 5 golfers at par or better in the second round. Ball State's 280 shaved five strokes off its opening round to keep the Cardinals inside the top 10. Ball State (285-280--565) opened the day tied in eighth place with Notre Dame through 18 holes. Through 36, Ball State is tied with Mid-American Conference rival Toledo (565), two strokes behind Illinois (563) in seventh. Purdue (549) is in first place, followed by Marquette (553), Michigan (555), Michigan State (557), Notre Dame (557) and Indiana (558) to complete the top six.
Carter Smith led the Cardinals in the first round, using an eagle on the par-5 sixth hole to spark an opening round 69. But while Smith slipped in the second round, the Cardinals rallied with Mahoney and Ali Khan both under par, and Kash Bellar and Braxton Kuntz both even. Bellar (71-71--142) was even par in both rounds and sits in 31st place overall. Khan (73-70--143), Smith (69-74--143) and Kuntz (72-71--143) each are tied in 41st place, in a field of 90.
Not to be overshadowed, freshman Happy Gilmore starred in the Spring Boilermaker Indy on Purdue's adjacent Kampen Golf Course (par-72, 7,465 yards). Gilmore (74-74--148) was in fifth place after 18 holes and finished the day 4-over par and tied for sixth among 33 golfers. Gavin Hare (80-77--157) and Drew Todd (81-76--157) both were 13-over par.
The final round of play begins with another shotgun start, Sunday at 9 a.m.
A sophomore transfer who starred last year at Eastern Michigan, Mahoney is playing his best golf the year down the stretch this month, after managing an injured back in the fall. He shot 70 in an individual tournament on March 22, and his 68 in today's second round was the second-best round of his college career -- tops while wearing Ball State's red and white. Starting on the 10th hole in a shotgun start in both rounds Saturday, Mahoney began his second round with birdies on #10 and #16, then added another on #2 and #8. He finished the day even on the par-4 ninth hole. His only blemish in the round was a bogey on the par-4 18th.
Despite a 6-over par 77 in his first trip around the par-71, 7,275-yard course, Mahoney (77-68--145) paced a veteran Cardinals' lineup which placed 4 of 5 golfers at par or better in the second round. Ball State's 280 shaved five strokes off its opening round to keep the Cardinals inside the top 10. Ball State (285-280--565) opened the day tied in eighth place with Notre Dame through 18 holes. Through 36, Ball State is tied with Mid-American Conference rival Toledo (565), two strokes behind Illinois (563) in seventh. Purdue (549) is in first place, followed by Marquette (553), Michigan (555), Michigan State (557), Notre Dame (557) and Indiana (558) to complete the top six.
Carter Smith led the Cardinals in the first round, using an eagle on the par-5 sixth hole to spark an opening round 69. But while Smith slipped in the second round, the Cardinals rallied with Mahoney and Ali Khan both under par, and Kash Bellar and Braxton Kuntz both even. Bellar (71-71--142) was even par in both rounds and sits in 31st place overall. Khan (73-70--143), Smith (69-74--143) and Kuntz (72-71--143) each are tied in 41st place, in a field of 90.
Not to be overshadowed, freshman Happy Gilmore starred in the Spring Boilermaker Indy on Purdue's adjacent Kampen Golf Course (par-72, 7,465 yards). Gilmore (74-74--148) was in fifth place after 18 holes and finished the day 4-over par and tied for sixth among 33 golfers. Gavin Hare (80-77--157) and Drew Todd (81-76--157) both were 13-over par.
The final round of play begins with another shotgun start, Sunday at 9 a.m.
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