Despite its best performance in the third round of the Pinehurst Intercollegiate in Pinehurst, N.C., the Ball State University men's golf team finished in a tie for seventh place.
With a team-combined score of 299 in the last 18 holes, the Cardinals fell one spot on the leader board.
The 19-team field featured two other Mid-American Conference schools: University of Toledo and Miami University. The Cardinals defeated both as Toledo finished 13th and Miami 14th.
"The playability of the golf course changed during the tournament," head coach Mike Fleck said. "We got off to a good start in the first round, but other teams were getting better, and we just fell apart in the end. We were as high as third place with a few holes to go but let it slip away."
Indiana University won the invitational with a score of 865. Ball State shot 42-over-par, 41 strokes behind the Hoosiers.
Tying for 23rd place individually, sophomore Ross Cosat led all Cardinals. Carding a 72 in the first round, Cosat tied with junior Brian Maurer with the lowest individual Ball State score.
"Ross' first round was one of the better even-par rounds I have seen in a while," Fleck said. "I was very pleased with his effort."
Freshman Eric Steger placed second for the Cardinals, tying for 32nd individually. Having only competed in a few tournaments during the fall season, Fleck said, he was excited to see Steger's progress.
"Eric did a great job this week at Pinehurst," Fleck said. "He was by far our most consistent golfer on the course."
As a sophomore, Cosat said, he understands the difficulties and pressures freshmen face as collegiate athletes.
"It's exciting to see what Steger did this week," Cosat said. "It's hard as a young player to come in and have an impact like he has. It's just like what Travis Smith did last year. To see him qualify and play the way he did is cool to see."
Though his teammates think he is doing well, Steger said, he expects to be consistent.
"I just try to stay focused on my game and execute well," he said. "The biggest thing I learned this week is that even though I am only a freshman, I know I can compete with the best. As a team we will build on this tournament and hopefully come away with a win soon."
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