Saturday, September 20
Ball State University
vs
Earl Yestingsmeier Invitational
Photo by: Jack Eads, Ball State Athletics
Johnston Paces E.Y. Invitational Field at 11-Under Through 36 Holes; Cardinals Tie Team Record in First Round
September 20, 2025 | Men's Golf
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Luke Johnston fired 14 birdies over two rounds Saturday to lead Ball State and pace the field of 84 golfers at the Earl Yestingsmeier Invitational, conducted at Delaware Country Club. Johnston leads freshman teammate Samuel Harris by two strokes heading into Sunday's final round. Harris is tied in second place with Alex Peck of Southern Indiana.
Johnston fired 65 and 64 on the par-70 track at DCC. He was one of three Cardinals golfers sitting at 5-under 65 after 18 holes, and he stretched his lead with a 6-under scorecard in round two. Combined, Ball State's first round 266 (-14) matched the lowest score in a single-round in program history -- tying a 266 (-14) in the second round of Butler's Don Benbow Invitational in Spring 2023.
Ball State, with Johnston and Harris a combined 20-under par through two rounds, also has senior Carter Smith and junior Cameron Young sitting in 12th place at 4-under par, leading into Sunday's final round. With Johnston and Harris both at 5-under 65 in the opening round, the Cardinals finished at -14 overall to match the second-lowest round, relative to par, in program history -- for the second time in 11 days. Ball State shot -14 in the final round at the Island Resort Intercollegiate on Sept. 9, finishing with the same score in consecutive rounds.
Smith opened the day at 5-under, also, though played as an individual and finished the day behind Peck as the highest scoring individuals in the field.
The Cardinals opened an 11-stroke team advantage over Butler, in second place, and 13 ahead of Wright State in third. The final round of play resumes Sunday with a shotgun start at 9:00 a.m.
Johnston fired 65 and 64 on the par-70 track at DCC. He was one of three Cardinals golfers sitting at 5-under 65 after 18 holes, and he stretched his lead with a 6-under scorecard in round two. Combined, Ball State's first round 266 (-14) matched the lowest score in a single-round in program history -- tying a 266 (-14) in the second round of Butler's Don Benbow Invitational in Spring 2023.
Ball State, with Johnston and Harris a combined 20-under par through two rounds, also has senior Carter Smith and junior Cameron Young sitting in 12th place at 4-under par, leading into Sunday's final round. With Johnston and Harris both at 5-under 65 in the opening round, the Cardinals finished at -14 overall to match the second-lowest round, relative to par, in program history -- for the second time in 11 days. Ball State shot -14 in the final round at the Island Resort Intercollegiate on Sept. 9, finishing with the same score in consecutive rounds.
Smith opened the day at 5-under, also, though played as an individual and finished the day behind Peck as the highest scoring individuals in the field.
The Cardinals opened an 11-stroke team advantage over Butler, in second place, and 13 ahead of Wright State in third. The final round of play resumes Sunday with a shotgun start at 9:00 a.m.
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