Ball State University Athletics
Men's Golf Places Third at Purdue Fall Invitational
October 13, 2026 | Men's Golf
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - - Senior Avery Mahoney led a final-round charge up the leaderboard Tuesday, as the Ball State men's golf team improved two spots to take third overall at the Purdue Fall Invitational.
The Cardinals took advantage of the six play, five score format in the final round on the par 72, 7,465-yard Kampen-Cosler Golf Course, with the third-lowest team round of the day at +3 (363).
The effort help Ball State jump past both Indiana and Northern Illinois to finish third among the 13-team field with a score of +14 (1094). Prior to this season, the Cardinals' best team finish in the event were 10th-place finishes in each of the previous three events.
Host Purdue won the event at -4 (), while Mid-American Conference rival Toledo took second at +4 (). Along with beating Big Ten foe Indiana (4th / +19 / 1099), the Cardinals also took down in-state rivals Purdue Fort Wayne (T7 / +39 / 1119) and Butler (T7 / +39 / 1119).
Mahoney played a big role in the team's move upward, becoming the first Ball State golfer to earn a Top 10 finish in the now six-year history of the event by finishing ninth overall at -2 (214). He closed the tournament with Ball State's best round of the day, using six birdies and eight pars to finish the day at -2 (70).
Mahoney entered the day tied for 15th, after shooting -1 (71) in the first round and +1 (73) in the second on Monday. Overall, he tied for the tournament lead with 15 total birdies while tying for second among the field in par 4 average at -5 (3.83).
Along with Mahoney's strong final round, all five of Ball State's countable scores were +2-or-better. Junior Happy Gilmore was second on the day for the Cardinals, turning in his best round of the event at E (72). The effort helped him climb 22 spots up the final leaderboard and into a tie for 44th at +10 (226).
The Cardinals also counted a +1 (73) from sophomore Luke Johnston and a pair of +2 (74)s from freshman Mattingly Upchurch and senior Cameron Young.
Johnston's effort followed a second-round -2 (70) and helped him finished tied for 20th overall at +3 (219).
Also finishing in the Top 10 for Ball State was freshman Brayden Lamborne who continued his solid play as an individual. After opening the tournament with rounds of -3 (69) and +2 (74) Monday, Lamborne closed with an even-par round of 72 to finish the two-day event tied for 10th overall at -1 (215).
Over the course of the tournament, Lamborne led all eight Ball State players and ranked fifth among the 88-player field in par 3 average at -1 (2.92). He also ranked second on the team in par 4 average (E / 4.00) and led the Cardinals with 36 total pars.
As a team, Ball State's six players led the field with 65 total birdies and ranked second among the field with two eagles. The Cardinals also finished the event ranked third in par 5 average (-9 / 4.88) and fifth in par 5 average (+19 / 4.11).
The Ball State men's golf team closes the 2025-26 season next week when it travels to the NCR South Course for the Dayton Flyer Invitational set for Oct. 19-20.
Ball State Individual Results
9 - Avery Mahoney: 214 (71-73-70; -2)
T10 - Brayden Lamborne*: 215 (69-74-72; -1)
T20 - Luke Johnston: 219 (76-70-73; +3)
T29 - Mattingly Upchurch: 222 (76-72-74; +6)
T32 - Brody Sorrell: 223 (74-69-80; +7)
T44 - Happy Gilmore: 226 (75-79-72; +10)
T54 - Cameron Young: 228 (79-75-74; +12)
T87 - Aidan Gutierrez*: 247 (82-85-80: +31)
* denotes playing as an individual
Ball State Team Results
3rd - Ball State: 1094 (372-359-363; +14)
The Cardinals took advantage of the six play, five score format in the final round on the par 72, 7,465-yard Kampen-Cosler Golf Course, with the third-lowest team round of the day at +3 (363).
The effort help Ball State jump past both Indiana and Northern Illinois to finish third among the 13-team field with a score of +14 (1094). Prior to this season, the Cardinals' best team finish in the event were 10th-place finishes in each of the previous three events.
Host Purdue won the event at -4 (), while Mid-American Conference rival Toledo took second at +4 (). Along with beating Big Ten foe Indiana (4th / +19 / 1099), the Cardinals also took down in-state rivals Purdue Fort Wayne (T7 / +39 / 1119) and Butler (T7 / +39 / 1119).
Mahoney played a big role in the team's move upward, becoming the first Ball State golfer to earn a Top 10 finish in the now six-year history of the event by finishing ninth overall at -2 (214). He closed the tournament with Ball State's best round of the day, using six birdies and eight pars to finish the day at -2 (70).
Mahoney entered the day tied for 15th, after shooting -1 (71) in the first round and +1 (73) in the second on Monday. Overall, he tied for the tournament lead with 15 total birdies while tying for second among the field in par 4 average at -5 (3.83).
Along with Mahoney's strong final round, all five of Ball State's countable scores were +2-or-better. Junior Happy Gilmore was second on the day for the Cardinals, turning in his best round of the event at E (72). The effort helped him climb 22 spots up the final leaderboard and into a tie for 44th at +10 (226).
The Cardinals also counted a +1 (73) from sophomore Luke Johnston and a pair of +2 (74)s from freshman Mattingly Upchurch and senior Cameron Young.
Johnston's effort followed a second-round -2 (70) and helped him finished tied for 20th overall at +3 (219).
Also finishing in the Top 10 for Ball State was freshman Brayden Lamborne who continued his solid play as an individual. After opening the tournament with rounds of -3 (69) and +2 (74) Monday, Lamborne closed with an even-par round of 72 to finish the two-day event tied for 10th overall at -1 (215).
Over the course of the tournament, Lamborne led all eight Ball State players and ranked fifth among the 88-player field in par 3 average at -1 (2.92). He also ranked second on the team in par 4 average (E / 4.00) and led the Cardinals with 36 total pars.
As a team, Ball State's six players led the field with 65 total birdies and ranked second among the field with two eagles. The Cardinals also finished the event ranked third in par 5 average (-9 / 4.88) and fifth in par 5 average (+19 / 4.11).
The Ball State men's golf team closes the 2025-26 season next week when it travels to the NCR South Course for the Dayton Flyer Invitational set for Oct. 19-20.
Ball State Individual Results
9 - Avery Mahoney: 214 (71-73-70; -2)
T10 - Brayden Lamborne*: 215 (69-74-72; -1)
T20 - Luke Johnston: 219 (76-70-73; +3)
T29 - Mattingly Upchurch: 222 (76-72-74; +6)
T32 - Brody Sorrell: 223 (74-69-80; +7)
T44 - Happy Gilmore: 226 (75-79-72; +10)
T54 - Cameron Young: 228 (79-75-74; +12)
T87 - Aidan Gutierrez*: 247 (82-85-80: +31)
* denotes playing as an individual
Ball State Team Results
3rd - Ball State: 1094 (372-359-363; +14)
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
Monday, September 28
Monday, September 28
Thursday, August 27
Thursday, August 27