NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Toledo's goal of winning the 2022 Mid-American Conference Men's Golf Championship was in its sights on Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately for the Rockets, Kent State pulled away down the stretch to capture its sixth-consecutive conference title at the White Eagle Country Club.
 
The Rockets entered the day with a one-shot lead over the Golden Flashes and led by as many as six strokes during the final round. Kent State finished with a flourish by playing its final four holes at two-under par to finish at three-under 285. Toledo was at four-under par entering the 15^th hole and ended up with a two-over 290.
 
Sophomore Jamie Tofte Nielsen led the Rockets individually with a one-over 217 (72-76-69) thanks to a three-under par 69 that was the best round shot by any golfer on Sunday. Nielsen finished in a three-way tie for medalist honors with Kent State's Josh Gilkison (72-72-73) and Miami's Jack Ebner (73-72-72) but lost in a playoff on the second hole.
 
"Jamie played amazing golf today and probably hit the ball as well as I've seen all year," Head Coach Jeff Roope said. "It was a great round of golf in really tough conditions."
 
Nielsen was joined on the all-tournament team by sophomore Barend Botha (68-76-78) and senior Lukas Clark (74-77-71), who tied for fifth place at six-over par 222. Rounding out the Rocket lineup were junior NJ Botha (T-28^th/78-77-75=230) and senior Max Siegfried (31^st/82-74-75=231).
 
Roope was honored after the tournament with the Kermit Blosser MAC Coach of the Year Award.

"I appreciate the recognition from my peers, but we're left with a bit of an empty feeling by not reaching our ultimate goal of winning the MAC title," the Rockets' fifth-year head coach said. "I really appreciate the tremendous effort of the amazing young men on our team, because without that receiving this award wouldn't have been possible."
 
TEAM STANDINGS
1. Kent State 295-301-285=881 (+17); 2. Toledo 292-303-290=885 (+21); T3. Northern Illinois 300-303-293=896 (+32); T3. Bowling Green 305-297-294=896 (+32); T5. Eastern Michigan 289-309-300=898 (+34); T5. Miami 306-301-291=898 (+34); 7. Ball State 301-315-298=914 (+50); 8. Ohio 308-320-291=919 (+55)

TOP FIVE INDIVIDUALS
T1. Jamie Tofte Nielsen (Toledo) 72-76-69=217 (+1); T1. Josh Gilkison (KSU) 72-72-73=217 (+1); T1. Jack Ebner (Miami) 73-72-72=217 (+1); 4. Chris Vandette (KSU) 71-79-70=220 (+4); T5. Barend Botha (Toledo) 68-76-78=222 (+6); T5. Lukas Clark (Toledo) 74-77-71=222 (+6)

TOLEDO INDIVIDUALS
T1. Jamie Tofte Nielsen 72-76-69=217 (+1); T5. Barend Botha 68-76-78=222 (+6); T5. Lukas Clark 74-77-71=222 (+6); T28. NJ Botha 78-77-75=230 (+14); 31. Max Siegfried 82-74-75=231 (+15)

2022 MAC Men's Golf All-Tournament Team // Specialty Awards
Earl Yestingsmeier Sportsmanship Award: Jack Herceg, Miami
Kermit Blosser Coach of the Year: Jeff Roope, Toledo
Freshman of the Year: Jordan Gilkison, Kent State
Golfer of the Year: Chris Vandette, Kent State
 
MAC Individual Champion: Josh Gilkison, Kent State
Runner up Medalists: Jack Ebner, Miami //  Jamie Tofte Nielsen, Toledo
 
All-Tournament Team
Chris Vandette, Kent State
Josh Gilkison, Kent State
Jack Ebner, Miami
Barend Botha, Toledo
Lukas Clark, Toledo
Jamie Tofte Nielsen, Toledo