Career Honors
• All-Mid-American Conference Second Team (2014)
• Academic All-MAC (2014)
• Academic All-MAC Honorable Mention (2013)
• MAC Golfer of the Week (Feb. 14, 2013)
Since he was 1 year old, McCormick Clouser has lived on a golf course.
He always wanted to play golf. Without it, he doesn’t know what he would do.
“I would be a lost puppy,” he said laughing.
One of two seniors on the Ball State men's golf team, Clouser's collegiate eligibility is coming to an end.
Though his career began with Michigan State, he quickly realized the decision to play as a Spartan was made for the wrong reasons.
"Selfish probably, stupid decision just because it's a Big Ten school," he said. "When people look at [Mid-American Conference] schools, they think they're not cool."
It didn't take long, however, for Clouser to feel at home in Muncie.
“At Michigan State you just compete, even amongst teammates,” he said. "The culture at Ball State is a 'better team, a better you.'”
Since joining Ball State, Clouser's teams have experienced success the program has not seen in decades. In the 2012-13 season, the Cardinals qualified for the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1991, and advanced to the NCAA Nationals for the first time since 1986.
Individually, Clouser qualified for the U.S. Amateur Championship in July. He said competing in summer tournaments helped raise his level of confidence.
“In the past I never thought I was good enough,” he said.
That confidence has been on full display this season, with two top five finishes already.
Not a vocal player, Clouser has become the team's unquestioned leader. He treats his teammates like best friends, and helps head coach Mike Fleck mentor the younger players.
"My job is to get the most of out of players and that comes with making them comfortable," Fleck said. "Familiarity helps everyone."
Clouser plans to play professionally after college, but said he tries not to dwell on what will come later in life.
No matter the amount of personal success he may achieve, Clouser is not likely to talk about it. He feels that talking about success can get inside a player's head and lead to mind games.
That doesn't mean he doesn't think about winning.
“[I] never want to lose, no matter who it is,” he said.
Read More
Three takeaways from Jeff Mitchell’s media session
By David Moore , Zach Carter and Adam Altobella / 4 hours agoBall State’s director of athletics Jeff Mitchell sat down with the media to discuss his first year in the position and other topics.
Community Celebrates Hopeful Future for Muncie Schools at State of the Schools
By Andrew Berger / 23 hours agoCommunity members, Muncie Community Schools (MCS) faculty and Ball State University faculty gathered at Southside Middle School May 8 for the first inaugural “State of the Schools” event. The occasion, which featured a buffet and live music, marked the first open community meeting to discuss the 2018 partnership between MCS and Ball State.
Ball State softball defeats Western Michigan in first game of MAC Championship
By Zach Carter / YesterdayJunior Maddie Weaver led the Cardinals with three RBIs and two hits.
