FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Barend Botha was named the Mid-American Conference's Freshman of the Year on Saturday following the conclusion of this year's MAC Championships at the par-72, 7,253-yard Sycamore Hills Golf Club in Fort Wayne, Ind. Toledo finished in eighth place in the tournament, which began on Friday and concluded on Saturday.

"Barend is very deserving of being named Freshman of the Year and was simply one of the better players in every tournament we played in with very few exceptions," Head Coach Jeff Roope said. "He is a really talented shot maker as well as a nice young man who is a wonderful representative of the University of Toledo."

Botha paced the Rockets with a 73.5 stroke average this season and led or tied for the team lead in all but one tournament. He is the fifth Rocket to receive MAC Freshman of Year, joining Brad Heaven (2001), Chris Selfridge (2012), Otto Black (2013) and Thomas Thurloway (2017).

Botha tied for 15^th place at 19-over par 235 to lead the Rockets this weekend. He was one shot ahead of his older brother NJ and classmate Jamie Tofte Nielsen, who tied for 17^th place at 20-over par 236. The remainder of Toledo's lineup consisted of junior David Amm (33^rd/247) and sophomore Palmer Yenrick (34^th/250).

"It was a really disappointing way to end our season after posting some really solid results this spring," Roope said. "Having two sophomores and two freshmen play in their first MAC Championships and get that experience under their belt was invaluable for the future of the Rockets. This pain will be temporary, and hopefully the lessons learned will positively shape their future."

Kent State captured its fifth straight MAC Championships crown with a team total of 46-over par 910, 13 shots in front of Northern Illinois (923). The Golden Flashes' Chris Vandette won the individual title at 10-over par 226, finish one stroke ahead of the Huskies Jordan Less and Miami's Cam Solomon and Charlie Nikitas.

TEAM STANDINGS
1. Kent State 308-304-298=910 (+46); 2. Northern Illinois 306-314-303=923 (+59); 3. Ball State 305-315-307=927 (+63); 4. Miami 315-311-303=929 (+65); 5. Eastern Michigan 321-309-304=934 (+70); 6. Bowling Green 313-308-322=943 (+79); 7. Ohio 330-301-319=950 (+86); 8. Toledo 318-314-320=952 (+88)

TOP FIVE INDIVIDUALS
1. Chris Vandette (KSU) 75-75-76=226 (+10); T2. Jordan Less (NIU) 75-76-76=227 (+11); T2. Cam Solomon (Miami) 77-81-69=227 (+11); T2. Charlie Nikitas (Miami) 76-75-76=227 (+11); 5. Julien Paltrinieri (KSU) 79-77-72=228 (+12)

TOLEDO INDIVIDUALS
T15. Barend Botha 76-80-79=235 (+19); T17. NJ Botha 81-74-81=236 (+20); T17. Jamie Tofte Nielsen 79-79-78=236 (+20); 33. David Amm 82-83-82=247 (+31); 34. Palmer Yenrick 83-81-86=250 (+34)