Upcoming tournaments
MAC Championships - April 28-30
PGA Minority Championship - May 6-7
NCAA Regional - May 16-18
The Ball State men's golf team will host the Earl Yestingsmeier Invitational this weekend. The Cardinals are coming off a tie for seventh and a tie for sixth in their last two tournaments.
This tournament is named after Earl Yestingsmeier, the longtime Ball State golf coach who died two years ago. Yestingsmeier coached the team for 36 years and led the Cardinals to 11 NCAA Championship appearances. He also stressed the importance of education during his tenure as a head coach — 90 percent of the players on the team graduated during his time as head coach.
Current Ball State head coach Mike Fleck said this tournament is important for Yestingsmeier's legacy.
"He's the face of Ball State golf, even though he's not with us anymore," Fleck said.
Fleck, who took over the golf program after Yestingsmeier retired in 1998, said his old coach is "the reason I'm here."
"He was a mentor, a father figure and a coach," Fleck said.
Yestingsmeier coached many players who went on to play professional golf, including four who played on the PGA Tour. Yestingsmeier started off as a sports information director in 1959 and became Ball State's head golf coach in 1963. He held that post until his retirement in 1999.
He also received the Ball State Alumni Award in 1985 and the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2004.
The Cardinals will come into this weekend with high expectations and will try to qualify for the NCAA Championship next month.
The Invitational starts April 15 at the Delaware Country Club, with the final round being played April 16.
Read More
Recycled Runway: Fashion 299x gives students a sustainable opportunity.
By Jessica Velez / 30 minutes agoFashion 299x gives students a sustainable opportunity.
"Home away from home:" Ball State softball seniors, parents reminence on Cardinals' senior day
By Zach Carter / 12 hours agoAfter honoring the Ball State softball seniors, players and their parents embraced and celebrated the journey this group of Cardinals have endured.
Another Chapter Complete
By Amber Pietz / 22 hours agoMy time at Ball State is nothing like I thought it would be, but everything I hoped it could be.
