VILLAGE OF PINEHURST, N.C. — The Ball State men’s golf team led from start to finish in Saturday’s final round to close out a team championship at the Pinehurst Intercollegiate.
Timothy Wiseman finished as runner-up on the individual leaderboard at Pinehurst No. 8 after carding a second straight even-par round (71) to lead the Cardinals.
Wiseman recorded the best result of his collegiate career, finishing just one shot behind individual medalist William Harwood of Elon. The sophomore from Corydon, Indiana, made four birdies on the final day and posted a 54-hole score of 217 (+4).
Ball State also counted a 72 from Michael Makris, a 74 from Keegan McKinney and a 75 from Johnny Watts in the final round to hold onto its overnight lead. McKinney gritted is way through the final 18 holes, making four birdies of his own, after having to sit out Friday’s second round because of injury.
The other four Cardinals answered the bell in that second round, knowing all their scores would count, to post the lowest round of the event (290). With a full lineup back out there Saturday, Ball State pulled away from Old Dominion and Elon down the stretch, extending its one-shot lead to seven.
Pinehurst Intercollegiate Champs! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/BEyYdzi9tM
— Ball State Golf (@BallStateMGolf) March 11, 2017
The Cardinals closed with a round of 292 to finish atop the 14-team field with a 54-hole total of 882 (+30). ODU and Elon tied for second at 889.
Ball State placed three golfers in the top 10, with Watts and Makris tying for seventh at 221 (+8). Michael VanDeventer, who aced the 13th hole Friday, tied for 19th at 226 (+13).
Shoutout @mikevandy96 for his hole-in-one at Pinehurst today! One of the hardest holes out there! Let's go get the win tomorrow!
— Johnny Watts (@_johnnywatts) March 11, 2017
Ball State won the Pinehurst Invitational for the second time. The Cardinals were also champions during their 2013 spring season that ended at the NCAA Championships.
This week’s tournament marked Ball State’s first stroke play action of the spring. The team will return to action March 31 at Vanderbilt’s Mason Rudolph Championship outside Nashville.
Ball State Results
1. Ball State, 882 (+30): 300-290-292
2. Timothy Wiseman, 217 (+4): 75-71-71
T7. Johnny Watts, 221 (+8): 71-75-75
T7. Michael Makris, 221 (+8): 78-71-72
T19. Michael VanDeventer, 226 (+13): 76-73-77
T49. Blake Vise*, 236 (+23): 78-80-78
— Keegan McKinney, DNF” 78-WD-74
*competed as an individual
