by Even before joining the Ball State men’s golf program, freshmen Samuel Harris and Luke Johnston weren’t strangers.
The two played against each other in high school golf, often facing off as Harris attended Silver Creek High School and Johnston was a student at Evansville North High School. Now, both former competitors wear the Cardinal logo on their polos and golf bags.
But that’s not all.
They’ve been bringing Ball State golf triumph after triumph and breaking and tying record after record to start the 2025-26 season.
“I know how good we are as a team, even though we’re young. But once we get to college, I don’t think being young really matters anymore,” Harris said. “I would get it in high school, but in college, we all have the ability to go shoot the low round. It’s really just about if we can execute and if we can go through our process and just get it done.”
During the Golfweek Fall Challenge at Pawley’s Island, South Carolina, event Sept. 7 – 9, Harris finished in second place with a 12-under score. Johnston — who wears a bucket hat in every tournament he plays — finished the event in fourth place at 10 under. This helped Ball State take third place.
Harris was named the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Golfer of the Week due to his performance.
But when they returned home for the Earl Yestingsmeier Invitational at Delaware Country Club, the two put on a clinic once more as Johnston shot 11 under (129) in 36 holes, tying a Ball State program record. Johnston and Harris both ended the event at 198, which were both the programs’ best scores in a 54-hole event.
Going into a playoff to decide the individual champion, both said they enjoyed the moment when heading to the tee.
“There was no trash talk,” Johnston said. “We honestly were just talking about our bad holes.”
While Johnston recorded a birdie to take the individual title, the two were more pleased with the overall outcome as Ball State won the team championship with the Cardinals’ lowest round for a 54-hole event (813).
“I’ve just been trying to do the right things,” Johnston said. “But I think there’s more to come for sure, especially for myself and the team.”
The two were named co-MAC Golfers of the Week following the victory.
While the two freshmen have been huge additions and an important factor for the achievements, they both credited Ball State head coach Mike Fleck. Fleck — who is in his 28th season as the Cardinals’ coach — received a contract extension Friday, Sept. 25, that has him in Muncie through 2029.
Over the last three seasons, Ball State has been named the MAC runner-up twice (2023, 2025) and won the title once (2024).
“He’s absolutely incredible, and he has experience like no other. You’re not going to find that anywhere else,” Harris said. “He played under Coach Earl [Yestingsmeier], who was a legendary coach and player. I wouldn’t have a different coach.”
But the success hasn’t just been from Johnston and Harris. Sophomore Gavin Hare competed as an individual Friday, Sept. 26, in The Indy at Forest Hills. He shot three under and finished the event tied for second place out of 40 golfers.
The team believes results like this are just the beginning, as the goal to win their second MAC title in three years is on everyone’s mind. Until the event takes place next spring, the Red and White are prepared to get better each day for a shot at glory.
But to Harris, there is no doubt in his mind that the team will be ready when that time comes.
“I think it’s just about processing and just the work ethic,” Harris said. “We are on the golf course training and are doing whatever we can to get as good as possible 24/7. There’s no off switch to it.
It’s just 100% commitment.”
Contact Zach Carter via email at zachary.carter@bsu.edu, zachcarter039@gmail.com or via X @ZachCarter85.
