Ball State University Athletics
Photo by: Bobby Ellis/Ball State University
Men's Golf Wraps Up Day 1 at Mason Rudolph Championship
April 03, 2026 | Men's Golf
FRANKLIN, Tenn. - - Battling a field featuring nine of the nation's top 100 programs, the Ball State men's golf team sits 17 strokes outside of the top 10 after the opening round of the Mason Rudolph Championship.
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In its first tour of the 7,112-yard, 71-par South Course at the Vanderbilt Legends Club, the Cardinals finished the day at +23 (307) and are 17 shots back of No. 13 Ole Miss and Furman which are tied for ninth at +6 (290).
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The nation's top-ranked team Auburn leads the 15-team field at -10 (274), while No. 12 Tennessee and No. 11 Vanderbilt round out the top three at -4 (280) and -2 (282), respectively.
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Leading the charge for Ball State on the opening day of the three-day event were freshman Samuel Harris and Luke Johnston who finished the round tied for 40th among the highly decorated 81-player field at +2 (73). The duo is tied with or ahead of eight of the nation's top 100 ranked players.
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Harris finished his round with a birdie on the par-5, 522-yard 18th, one of his three on the day. Johnston put together back-to-back birdies on holes 14 and 15, also finishing the day with three. Harris also played 12 of his 18 holes at par, while Johnston carded 11 pars, including six straight to start his round.
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Overall, Ball State's golfers registered nine birdies in the opening round, with two coming from junior Avery Mahoney and another from junior Cameron Young. Three of the team's nine birdies came on the 517-yard, par-5 14th
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The second round of the Mason Rudolph Championship tees off at 9 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. CT Saturday with the Cardinals starting on hole 10 beginning at 9:27 a.m. ET / 8:27 a.m. CT.
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Ball State Individual Results:
T40 - Samuel Harris: +2 (71)
T40 - Luke Johnston: +2 (71)
T74 - Avery Mahoney: +9 (80)
79 - Happy Gilmore: +10 (81)
81 - Cameron Young: +18 (89)
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In its first tour of the 7,112-yard, 71-par South Course at the Vanderbilt Legends Club, the Cardinals finished the day at +23 (307) and are 17 shots back of No. 13 Ole Miss and Furman which are tied for ninth at +6 (290).
Â
The nation's top-ranked team Auburn leads the 15-team field at -10 (274), while No. 12 Tennessee and No. 11 Vanderbilt round out the top three at -4 (280) and -2 (282), respectively.
Â
Leading the charge for Ball State on the opening day of the three-day event were freshman Samuel Harris and Luke Johnston who finished the round tied for 40th among the highly decorated 81-player field at +2 (73). The duo is tied with or ahead of eight of the nation's top 100 ranked players.
Â
Harris finished his round with a birdie on the par-5, 522-yard 18th, one of his three on the day. Johnston put together back-to-back birdies on holes 14 and 15, also finishing the day with three. Harris also played 12 of his 18 holes at par, while Johnston carded 11 pars, including six straight to start his round.
Â
Overall, Ball State's golfers registered nine birdies in the opening round, with two coming from junior Avery Mahoney and another from junior Cameron Young. Three of the team's nine birdies came on the 517-yard, par-5 14th
Â
The second round of the Mason Rudolph Championship tees off at 9 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. CT Saturday with the Cardinals starting on hole 10 beginning at 9:27 a.m. ET / 8:27 a.m. CT.
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Ball State Individual Results:
T40 - Samuel Harris: +2 (71)
T40 - Luke Johnston: +2 (71)
T74 - Avery Mahoney: +9 (80)
79 - Happy Gilmore: +10 (81)
81 - Cameron Young: +18 (89)
Players Mentioned
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