NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Toledo is in second place and just three strokes behind first-round leader Eastern Michigan following Friday's play at the 2022 Mid-American Conference Championships. The tournament is being held at the par-72, 7,065-yard White Eagle Country Club.
 
Sophomore Barend Botha propelled the Rockets to their second-place standing by firing a four-under par 68, one shot behind Eastern Michigan's Cougar Collins. He was one of just three individuals to shoot under par today.
 
After posting his only bogey at No. 1, Botha finished his round with a flourish by registering three of his five birdies today over the final five holes. Sophomore Jamie Tofte Nielsen is tied for fourth place with an even-par 72, while senior Lukas Clark is tied for 11^th place at two-over par.

"Barend hit some intelligent shots today, putted at a high level and just really had a vision of what he wanted to do," Head Coach Jeff Roope said. "Jamie and Lukas both played solid in windy conditions that helped make the fairways a little firmer and the greens a little faster."

Junior NJ Botha is tied for 25^th place with a 78, while senior Max Siegfried is tied for 36^th place with an 82.
 
The Rockets will be back on the course for Round Two tomorrow morning with tee times beginning at 8:20 a.m. CT.
 
TEAM STANDINGS
1. Eastern Michigan 289 (+1); 2. Toledo 292 (+4); 3. Kent State 295 (+7); 4. Northern Illinois 300 (+12); 5. Ball State 301 (+13); 6. Bowling Green 305 (+17); 7. Miami 306 (+18); 8. Ohio 308 (+20)

TOP FIVE INDIVIDUALS
1. Cougar Collins (EMU) 67 (-5); 2. Barend Botha (Toledo) 68 (-4); 3. Chris Vandette (KSU) 71 (-1); T4. Jamie Tofte Nielsen (Toledo) 72 (E); T4. Cam Kellett (EMU) 72 (E); T4. Zach Place (NIU) 72 (E); T4. Ali Khan 72 (E); T4. Josh Gilkison (KSU) 72 (E)

TOLEDO INDIVIDUALS
2. Barend Botha 68 (-4); 3. Jamie Tofte Nielsen 72 (E); T11. Lukas Clark 74 (+2); T25. NJ Botha 78 (+6); T36. Max Siegfried 82 (+10)