Ball State University Athletics
Photo by: Collin Phillips/Ball State Athletics
November 11, 2026 | Men's Golf
MUNCIE, Ind. - - Ball State men's golf head coach Mike Fleck is excited to add two of the region's top players for the 2027-28 season with the signing of Parker Andersen and Dane Starnes to national letters of intent.
"I am really excited about Parker and Dane joining our Ball State golf family," Fleck said. "In a timeframe where development within programs is less the narrative and it's more of a compete now environment, I'm confident both of these young men have the ability to make immediate contributions and impact the program as players and young men upon their arrival."
Below is more about each golfer set to join the program:
Parker Andersen - Wentzville, MO (Saint Louis University High School)
FLECK ON ANDERSEN: Parker is an elite player with a ton of tournament experience and success. What excites me the most about Parker is that his game travels, and he doesn't back down from competing. He has a very methodical approach to his processes, and he has experienced a lot of the collegiate environment feels with how the Xavier Golf Company prepares their student-athletes.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: A four-time medalist in 2026, Andersen currently ranks 275th in the Junior Golf Scoreboard rankings and is the second-ranked player in the state of Missouri among the 2027 class ... One of his most impressive performances came in Yorktown, Indiana, when he shot -10 (134; 65-69) to win the Golfweek Junior Tour event at the Players Club at Woodland Trials ... His opening-round -7 (65) was the lowest round of the event and included seven birdies ... Andersen also won Golfweek Junior Tour events at the Legends of Indiana, with a score of -7 (137; 71-66), and at Hueston Woods, with a score of -1 (143; 71-72) ... His total at Hueston Woods gave him a three-stroke victory over the field of 45 players ... He also won the 2026 Missouri Junior Amateur with a score of -2 (211; 69-70-72) ... Along with his four event wins, Andersen produced four additional top six finishes in Golfweek Junior Tour events during the 2026 calendar year.
Dane Starnes - Fishers, IN (Hamilton Southeastern)
FLECK ON STARNES: Dane is one of Indiana's very best players. He has a very competitive determination, and he competes at elevated levels with high school, junior, and state level competition. His experience with HSE golf and their expectation to compete for state titles sets him up well walking into the Ball State golf program. Dane has also grown up seeing his brother play collegiately and knows what it takes and how courses are set up at this next level.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: A 2026 Indiana High School Athletics Association (IHSAA) All-State selection as a junior in 2026, Starnes enters his senior season at Hamilton Southeastern ranked 665th in the Junior Golf Scoreboard rankings and is the fourth-ranked player in the state of Indiana among the 2027 class ... In his first three years at HSE, Starnes has helped lead the Royals to three top 10 state finishes as a team, with the squad finishing third in 2024, fifth in 2026 and ninth and 2025 ... A Golfweek Junior Tour runner-up at Purdue's Kampen-Cosler Course, losing in a playoff with a score of +1 (145; 73-72), Starnes also made the cut at both the 2026 Indiana State Open and 2026 Indiana State Amateur ... He would go on to finish tied for 15th at the State Open at the Brickyard Crossing, with a score of E (216; 73-71-72), and tied for 41st at the State Amateur event at the Broadmoor Country Club with a score of +1 (217; 72-72-73) ... His brother, Cole Starnes, is currently in his fourth year at Indiana.
"I am really excited about Parker and Dane joining our Ball State golf family," Fleck said. "In a timeframe where development within programs is less the narrative and it's more of a compete now environment, I'm confident both of these young men have the ability to make immediate contributions and impact the program as players and young men upon their arrival."
Below is more about each golfer set to join the program:
Parker Andersen - Wentzville, MO (Saint Louis University High School)
FLECK ON ANDERSEN: Parker is an elite player with a ton of tournament experience and success. What excites me the most about Parker is that his game travels, and he doesn't back down from competing. He has a very methodical approach to his processes, and he has experienced a lot of the collegiate environment feels with how the Xavier Golf Company prepares their student-athletes.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: A four-time medalist in 2026, Andersen currently ranks 275th in the Junior Golf Scoreboard rankings and is the second-ranked player in the state of Missouri among the 2027 class ... One of his most impressive performances came in Yorktown, Indiana, when he shot -10 (134; 65-69) to win the Golfweek Junior Tour event at the Players Club at Woodland Trials ... His opening-round -7 (65) was the lowest round of the event and included seven birdies ... Andersen also won Golfweek Junior Tour events at the Legends of Indiana, with a score of -7 (137; 71-66), and at Hueston Woods, with a score of -1 (143; 71-72) ... His total at Hueston Woods gave him a three-stroke victory over the field of 45 players ... He also won the 2026 Missouri Junior Amateur with a score of -2 (211; 69-70-72) ... Along with his four event wins, Andersen produced four additional top six finishes in Golfweek Junior Tour events during the 2026 calendar year.
Dane Starnes - Fishers, IN (Hamilton Southeastern)
FLECK ON STARNES: Dane is one of Indiana's very best players. He has a very competitive determination, and he competes at elevated levels with high school, junior, and state level competition. His experience with HSE golf and their expectation to compete for state titles sets him up well walking into the Ball State golf program. Dane has also grown up seeing his brother play collegiately and knows what it takes and how courses are set up at this next level.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: A 2026 Indiana High School Athletics Association (IHSAA) All-State selection as a junior in 2026, Starnes enters his senior season at Hamilton Southeastern ranked 665th in the Junior Golf Scoreboard rankings and is the fourth-ranked player in the state of Indiana among the 2027 class ... In his first three years at HSE, Starnes has helped lead the Royals to three top 10 state finishes as a team, with the squad finishing third in 2024, fifth in 2026 and ninth and 2025 ... A Golfweek Junior Tour runner-up at Purdue's Kampen-Cosler Course, losing in a playoff with a score of +1 (145; 73-72), Starnes also made the cut at both the 2026 Indiana State Open and 2026 Indiana State Amateur ... He would go on to finish tied for 15th at the State Open at the Brickyard Crossing, with a score of E (216; 73-71-72), and tied for 41st at the State Amateur event at the Broadmoor Country Club with a score of +1 (217; 72-72-73) ... His brother, Cole Starnes, is currently in his fourth year at Indiana.
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