Ball State University Athletics
Johnston & Gilmore Lead Men’s Golf on Opening Day of Island Resort Intercollegiate
September 06, 2026 | Men's Golf
HARRIS, Mich. - - The Ball State men's golf team opened the 2026-27 season with four individual rounds below par Sunday at the Island Resort Intercollegiate hosted by South Dakota State at the Sage Run Golf Club.
The effort helped the Cardinals finish the day tied for eighth among the 12-team field with a score of +5 (581). Ball State shot +2 (290) in the opening round and +3 (291) in the second versus a field featuring six teams ranked in the top 100 nationally in last season's final SCOREBOARD Powered by clippd standings.
Individually, Ball State was led by sophomore Luke Johnston who carded back-to-back rounds of -2 (70) and is currently tied for 10th among the 80-player field at -4 (140). He finished the day with 12 total birdies, six in each round, with the total tied for fourth among the field. Johnston birdied holes eight and nine in each of his rounds, while earning at least one birdie on 10 of the 18 holes.
Also finishing the day under par for the Cardinals was junior Happy Gilmore who shot -3 (141) to tie for 13th overall. Gilmore turned in Ball State's lowest round of the day, opening his season with a -3 (69). The effort was aided by an eagle on the par 4, 298-yard eighth, which he would also birdie in the second round.
In his collegiate debut, freshman Mattingly Upchurch also turned in a solid day, following an opening-round +2 (74) with a round of -2 (70) to finish tied for 22nd overall at E (142) playing as an individual. He logged three birdies on his opening 18 and four on his second tour of the 72 par, 7200-yard course.
Overall, all five Cardinals in the lineup provided at least one countable score Sunday. In the opening round, Ball State's total included a +3 (75) from senior Cameron Young and a +4 (76) from senior Avery Mahoney.
The second round counted a +2 (74) from sophomore Brody Sorrell and another round of +3 (75) from Young. In fact, Young was the first Ball State player to log an eagle this season, as he holed out on his second shot into the par 4, 463-yard fourth.
After the first 36 holes, Michigan leads the field with a team score of -29 (547), followed by West Virginia at -10 (566). Individually, three players are tied for the tournament lead at -11 (133).
Ball State was one of three teams to card two eagles Sunday and finished eighth among the field with 30 total birdies.
The Island Resort Intercollegiate concludes tomorrow with another 7:30 a.m. start. Tee times and starting holes will be announced later this evening.
Ball State Individual Results
T10th - Luke Johnston: 140 (70-70; -4)
T13th - Happy Gilmore: 141 (69-72; -3)
T22nd - Mattingly Upchurch: 144 (74-72; E)
T59th - Cameron Young: 150 (75-75; +6)
T69th - Avery Mahoney: 152 (76-76; +8)
T75th - Brody Sorrell: 154 (80-74; +8)
Ball State Team Results
T8th - Ball State: 581 (290-291; +5)
The effort helped the Cardinals finish the day tied for eighth among the 12-team field with a score of +5 (581). Ball State shot +2 (290) in the opening round and +3 (291) in the second versus a field featuring six teams ranked in the top 100 nationally in last season's final SCOREBOARD Powered by clippd standings.
Individually, Ball State was led by sophomore Luke Johnston who carded back-to-back rounds of -2 (70) and is currently tied for 10th among the 80-player field at -4 (140). He finished the day with 12 total birdies, six in each round, with the total tied for fourth among the field. Johnston birdied holes eight and nine in each of his rounds, while earning at least one birdie on 10 of the 18 holes.
Also finishing the day under par for the Cardinals was junior Happy Gilmore who shot -3 (141) to tie for 13th overall. Gilmore turned in Ball State's lowest round of the day, opening his season with a -3 (69). The effort was aided by an eagle on the par 4, 298-yard eighth, which he would also birdie in the second round.
In his collegiate debut, freshman Mattingly Upchurch also turned in a solid day, following an opening-round +2 (74) with a round of -2 (70) to finish tied for 22nd overall at E (142) playing as an individual. He logged three birdies on his opening 18 and four on his second tour of the 72 par, 7200-yard course.
Overall, all five Cardinals in the lineup provided at least one countable score Sunday. In the opening round, Ball State's total included a +3 (75) from senior Cameron Young and a +4 (76) from senior Avery Mahoney.
The second round counted a +2 (74) from sophomore Brody Sorrell and another round of +3 (75) from Young. In fact, Young was the first Ball State player to log an eagle this season, as he holed out on his second shot into the par 4, 463-yard fourth.
After the first 36 holes, Michigan leads the field with a team score of -29 (547), followed by West Virginia at -10 (566). Individually, three players are tied for the tournament lead at -11 (133).
Ball State was one of three teams to card two eagles Sunday and finished eighth among the field with 30 total birdies.
The Island Resort Intercollegiate concludes tomorrow with another 7:30 a.m. start. Tee times and starting holes will be announced later this evening.
Ball State Individual Results
T10th - Luke Johnston: 140 (70-70; -4)
T13th - Happy Gilmore: 141 (69-72; -3)
T22nd - Mattingly Upchurch: 144 (74-72; E)
T59th - Cameron Young: 150 (75-75; +6)
T69th - Avery Mahoney: 152 (76-76; +8)
T75th - Brody Sorrell: 154 (80-74; +8)
Ball State Team Results
T8th - Ball State: 581 (290-291; +5)
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
Thursday, August 27
Thursday, August 27
Monday, August 24
Wednesday, August 19