The men's golf team will get its final tune-up before the Mid-American Conference Championship this weekend at the First Energy Intercollegiate in Akron, Ohio. The event is hosted by Akron, who takes turns hosting the event every other year with Kent State.
Ball State will compete for its fourth consecutive weekend. Coach Mike Fleck said that the players should have no problems with fatigue.
"The players are in good shape physically," he said. "Mentally they are strong. If anything, it is an advantage because they are getting better."
The First Energy Intercollegiate takes place at a well-known golf course, the Firestone Country Club. The South Course is home to the PGA Tour World Golf Championships NEC Invitational held Aug. 16-22.
Although the players this weekend will be competing on the 7,060-yard, par 72 North Course, Fleck said that is it an honor for the players to be able to compete at the prestigious site.
"It is a great opportunity to play at Firestone," he said. "It is a tour stop, it's a great course and an opportunity for us to play a championship course."
The Cardinals are coming off an 11th-place finish at the Robert Kepler Invitational. The field was stacked with all but one of the Big Ten schools and five other MAC schools. Fleck said competing against the larger schools is good experience for his players.
"It gives us confidence," he said.
The Cards' will likely rely on the solid play of freshman C.D. Hockersmith, who continues to lead all freshmen in the MAC in scoring average per round at 74.70. The team leader in scoring average, however, is Patrick Wilkes-Krier at 74.58. Also competing this weekend: Brandon Boomsma, Wayne Denger and Lance Scholl.
The field this weekend includes the winner of the Robert Kepler Invite, Xavier, as well as all 10 of the MAC schools.
"It is basically a conference preview," Fleck said. "It should be very competitive. We want to continue to play well, which we've done a good job of that this spring."
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