MAC Men’s Golfer of the Week
Carter Smith, Ball State, Junior, Sellersburg, Ind. (Silver Creek)
Event: Everett Buick GMC Classic
Individual: 2nd | Team: 9th
Score: 70-66-69--205
Smith's second round featured a 6-under par 66 to mark Ball State's best round of the season and his career low, relative to par. His 11-under par 54-hole score matched his career low that stands as the fourth-best in program history. Smith (70-66-69--205), playing as an individual in this event, finished only 14 holes of the second round before Monday's suspension due to darkness. Prior to suspension, he had birdied the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th holes in succession. He finished the 14th through 17th holes on Tuesday morning, shooting par on each, to complete his second round of 18 holes after a shotgun start beginning on the 18th hole. His 66 was Ball State's lowest round of the season, leaving him one stroke behind Little Rock's Archie Smith as the tournament leader. In the final round, Ball State's Smith continued his steady play and he overtook the Trojan's Smith, briefly holding the lead before Troy's Jake Springer (204) emerged as the champion with a 7-under par final-round flurry. Smith trailed Springer by two strokes with one hole to play, and cut the margin with a two-stroke birdie on the par-3 17th hole.
Other Nominees
Keith Hunter, Central Michigan, Junior, New Hamburg, Ontatio
Event: Motor City Matchup
Team: 2nd
Score: 73 + 72 = 145
Keith led the Chippewas with a 4and3 win on the first day of the Motor City Matchup to help the Chippewas score a win over Greenbay in the first round of matchplay, he scored a 71 on the day. He kept his strong performance rolling on the final day in the Championship round posting a 2and1 win over Oakland with a score of 70.
Connor Malicki, Kent State, Sophomore, Avon, Ohio (St. Ignatius)
Event: Golden Flash Indvidual
Individual: T-2 | Team: N/A
Score: 71-73 = 144 (E)
Malicki fought through rainy conditions at Monday's Golden Flash Individual to record a tied second-place finish. The sophomore fired rounds of 71 and 73 to conclude the 36-hole event at even-par.
Cameron Pero, Miami, Junior, Bloomfield, Ontario
Event: RedHawk Intercollegiate
Individual: T-6 | Team: 4th
Score: 68-68-72–208
Miami was one of only four teams to produce a team score under par. Cameron Pero led the RedHawks with a score of 208, or five below par. He shot 11 birdies overall.
