Men's golf opens its spring season at the 2023 Earl Yestingsmeier Match Play down in Dade City, F.L. This will be the first time the Panthers are participating in the event.
 
Event Info:
Mon. - Tue. February 6-February 7 - Earl Yestingsmeier Match Play (Dade City, F.L.)
Live Scoring | Lake Jovita Country Club

Previously known as the Mid-American Match Play, the event was renamed in 2015 to honor Earl Yestingsmeier. Yestingsmeier passed away in 2014 at the age of 80. He led the Ball State men's golf program for 36 seasons, 31 of them serving as both coach and sports information director. He is enshrined in the Ball State Athletics, Golf Coaches Association, and Indiana Golf halls of fame, leading Ball State to 107 tournament titles and 11 NCAA appearances. 
 
The Field
High Point is one of eight teams competing in the tournament. Drake, Dayton, Western Kentucky, Loyola Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, and Ball State are also competing. The tournament is being hosted by Ball State. 
 
HPU's Lineup
 
Alan Smith
Gregor Meyer
Burch Harrison
Grady Newton
Charlie Barr
Kyle Nordheimer
 
Lake Jovita Country Club
Located just north of Tampa, Lake Jovita Country Club is ranked a top 50 golf course. There are two courses on the property, which is semi-private and open to the public. The course being played will play as a par 72 at a length of 7,153 yards.
 
Format and Schedule
The match play tournament is 54 holes. The first 36 holes will be played on Monday with the final 18 set for Tuesday. Monday will be a shotgun start with High Point facing off against Eastern Michigan. Teams are seeded based on GolfStat rankings. The Panthers will have representatives starting off holes 1,2,3,5,6 and 8. High Point will either face No. 1 Ball State or No. 8 Central Michigan Monday afternoon, depending on results. The final round is set for Tuesday at 8:30 a.m.


2023 Earl Yestingsmeier Match Play Matchups
(1) Ball State vs. (8) Central Michigan
(4) High Point vs. (5) Eastern Michigan
(3) Western Kentucky vs. (6) Loyola
(2) Dayton vs. (7) Drake
 
About the Fall
High Point's fall consisted of five events. The team's best finish was 7th at the JT Poston Invitational. On the individual side, Burch Harrison won Big South freshman of the week in back-to-back weeks. Harrison finished T-15th at the Grandover Intercollegiate, shooting a 1-under par 215 for the tournament, highlighted by his final round, 3-under par 69. Graduate transfer, Alan Smith, led the team in scoring in three of its five fall events.