Monday, May 15
Bath, Mich.
All Day
University of Toledo
vs
NCAA Regional
Junior Barend Botha is competing in the NCAA Bath Regional on May 15-17.
Photo by: Bree Bee
Barend Botha to Compete in NCAA Regionals Starting Monday
5/11/2023 1:54:00 PM | Men's Golf
Junior is fourth Rocket to compete as individual in NCAA play
TOLEDO, Ohio — Junior Barend Botha will represent the University of Toledo men's golf program when he competes in the NCAA Bath Regional hosted by Michigan State University in Bath, Mich. The tournament will be held Monday-Wednesday, May 15-17 at the par-71, 7,126-yard Eagle Eye Golf Club.
A native of George, South Africa, Botha has posted a school-record 70.5 stroke average this season and is the No. 1 seed among individuals. Botha was named MAC Golfer of the Year honors last week and also is the fourth Rocket in program history to earn first-team all-league recognition on three occasions.
Botha won the 2023 MAC Championships with a five-under par 211 (73-70-68). He birdied the final hole to finish one stroke ahead of Miami's Danny Fisher.
Botha has registered 22 rounds of par or better this season and notched a sixth-place showing or better in six of 11 tournaments. He also tied a school record with a 12-under par 204 en route to winning the first tournament of his collegiate career at UNCW's Seahawk Intercollegiate on March 26-27.
Rockets in the NCAA Regionals
Botha is the fourth Rocket to compete in a NCAA event as an individual. Chris Selfridge participated in regional play in 2013 and 2015, while Otto Black and Duncan McNeill earned spots in 2016 and 2019, respectively.
Past Individual Finishes in NCAA Regionals
2013 – Chris Selfridge – T-25th – Columbus (Ohio) Regional – 77-71-74=222 (+9)
2015 – Chris Selfridge – 10th – Noblesville (Ind.) Regional – 73-71-71=215 (-1)
2016 – Otto Black – T-55th – Kohler (Wis.) Regional – 74-72-78=224 (+8)
2019 – Duncan McNeill – T-12th – Louisville (Ky.) Regional – 73-67-71=211 (-2)
The Regional Field
The NCAA Bath Regional features 13 teams and 10 individuals. The top five teams and the top individual not on an advancing team will move on to the NCAA Championships on May 24-29 at the Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. Five teams and one individual will also advance from the Auburn, Ala.; Salem, S.C.; Las Vegas, Nev.; Norman, Okla.; and Morgan Hill, Calif. regionals.
The field includes four Top 25 teams (according to Golfstat rankings): #3 Illinois, #10 Florida, #15 Texas, and #22 Oregon. The field also includes 11 Top 100 players with Botha's ranking at #111.
The Regional Schedule
Sunday, May 14 — Practice Round (9:00 a.m. shotgun start)
Monday, May 15 — First Round (18), 8:00 a.m. (tee times off No. 1 & 10)
Tuesday, May 16 — Second Round (18), 8:00 a.m. (tee times off No. 1 & 10)
Wednesday, May 17 — Third Round (18), 8:00 a.m. (tee times off No. 1 & 10)
NOTE: Botha will tee off at 10:44 a.m. from Hole No. 1.
Teams (in seeding order) include: No. 1 Illinois (Big 10 champions); No. 2 Florida (SEC champions); No. 3 Texas; No. 4 Oregon; No. 5 Kansas State; No. 6 Georgia; No. 7 Liberty (ASUN champions); No. 8 San Diego; No. 9 Little Rock (OVC Champions; No. 10 Michigan State; No. 11 Wisconsin; No. 12 Illinois State (MVC Champions); and No. 13 Purdue Fort Wayne (Horizon League champions).
Individuals (in seeding order) are: 1. Barend Botha (Toledo); 2. Ben Warian (Minnesota); 3. Tyler Goecke (Wright State); 4. Palmer Jackson (Notre Dame); 5. Nathan Han (Columbia); 6. Mikkel Mathiesen (Wright State); 7. Caleb VanArragon (Valparaiso); 8. Nate Stevens (Notre Dame); 9. Anthony Delisanti (Valparaiso); 10. Jack Simon (St. John's)
MAC Medalist
Barend Botha is the seventh Rocket in program history to capture medalist honors at the conference championships. Duncan McNeill was the last Toledo golfer to do so in 2019 with the Rockets' other MAC medalists including Ciaran McAleavey in 2008, Brad Heaven in 2004, Mike Stone in 1992 and Tim Hirt in 1979, 1980 and 1981. Tim Rice tied for first place in 1997.
MAC Golfer of Week
Barend Botha was named MAC Men's Golfer of the Week three times this season and has been honored on six occasions during his Rocket career, The most recent time Botha was honored was when he tied a school record with a 12-under par 204 (70-66-68) en route to winning the first tournament of his collegiate career at UNCW's Seahawk Intercollegiate on March 26-27.
Improvement Season by Season
Barend Botha registered a 73.5 stroke average in eight tournaments as a freshman after not arriving on campus until January due to the Covid pandemic. He notched a 72.5 mark as a sophomore before posting a school-record 70.5 average this season.
Botha also has improved his finishes at the MAC Championships each season. He tied for 15th place as 2021, tied for fifth last year and captured the crown this season.
A native of George, South Africa, Botha has posted a school-record 70.5 stroke average this season and is the No. 1 seed among individuals. Botha was named MAC Golfer of the Year honors last week and also is the fourth Rocket in program history to earn first-team all-league recognition on three occasions.
Botha won the 2023 MAC Championships with a five-under par 211 (73-70-68). He birdied the final hole to finish one stroke ahead of Miami's Danny Fisher.
Botha has registered 22 rounds of par or better this season and notched a sixth-place showing or better in six of 11 tournaments. He also tied a school record with a 12-under par 204 en route to winning the first tournament of his collegiate career at UNCW's Seahawk Intercollegiate on March 26-27.
Rockets in the NCAA Regionals
Botha is the fourth Rocket to compete in a NCAA event as an individual. Chris Selfridge participated in regional play in 2013 and 2015, while Otto Black and Duncan McNeill earned spots in 2016 and 2019, respectively.
Past Individual Finishes in NCAA Regionals
2013 – Chris Selfridge – T-25th – Columbus (Ohio) Regional – 77-71-74=222 (+9)
2015 – Chris Selfridge – 10th – Noblesville (Ind.) Regional – 73-71-71=215 (-1)
2016 – Otto Black – T-55th – Kohler (Wis.) Regional – 74-72-78=224 (+8)
2019 – Duncan McNeill – T-12th – Louisville (Ky.) Regional – 73-67-71=211 (-2)
The Regional Field
The NCAA Bath Regional features 13 teams and 10 individuals. The top five teams and the top individual not on an advancing team will move on to the NCAA Championships on May 24-29 at the Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. Five teams and one individual will also advance from the Auburn, Ala.; Salem, S.C.; Las Vegas, Nev.; Norman, Okla.; and Morgan Hill, Calif. regionals.
The field includes four Top 25 teams (according to Golfstat rankings): #3 Illinois, #10 Florida, #15 Texas, and #22 Oregon. The field also includes 11 Top 100 players with Botha's ranking at #111.
The Regional Schedule
Sunday, May 14 — Practice Round (9:00 a.m. shotgun start)
Monday, May 15 — First Round (18), 8:00 a.m. (tee times off No. 1 & 10)
Tuesday, May 16 — Second Round (18), 8:00 a.m. (tee times off No. 1 & 10)
Wednesday, May 17 — Third Round (18), 8:00 a.m. (tee times off No. 1 & 10)
NOTE: Botha will tee off at 10:44 a.m. from Hole No. 1.
Teams (in seeding order) include: No. 1 Illinois (Big 10 champions); No. 2 Florida (SEC champions); No. 3 Texas; No. 4 Oregon; No. 5 Kansas State; No. 6 Georgia; No. 7 Liberty (ASUN champions); No. 8 San Diego; No. 9 Little Rock (OVC Champions; No. 10 Michigan State; No. 11 Wisconsin; No. 12 Illinois State (MVC Champions); and No. 13 Purdue Fort Wayne (Horizon League champions).
Individuals (in seeding order) are: 1. Barend Botha (Toledo); 2. Ben Warian (Minnesota); 3. Tyler Goecke (Wright State); 4. Palmer Jackson (Notre Dame); 5. Nathan Han (Columbia); 6. Mikkel Mathiesen (Wright State); 7. Caleb VanArragon (Valparaiso); 8. Nate Stevens (Notre Dame); 9. Anthony Delisanti (Valparaiso); 10. Jack Simon (St. John's)
MAC Medalist
Barend Botha is the seventh Rocket in program history to capture medalist honors at the conference championships. Duncan McNeill was the last Toledo golfer to do so in 2019 with the Rockets' other MAC medalists including Ciaran McAleavey in 2008, Brad Heaven in 2004, Mike Stone in 1992 and Tim Hirt in 1979, 1980 and 1981. Tim Rice tied for first place in 1997.
MAC Golfer of Week
Barend Botha was named MAC Men's Golfer of the Week three times this season and has been honored on six occasions during his Rocket career, The most recent time Botha was honored was when he tied a school record with a 12-under par 204 (70-66-68) en route to winning the first tournament of his collegiate career at UNCW's Seahawk Intercollegiate on March 26-27.
Improvement Season by Season
Barend Botha registered a 73.5 stroke average in eight tournaments as a freshman after not arriving on campus until January due to the Covid pandemic. He notched a 72.5 mark as a sophomore before posting a school-record 70.5 average this season.
Botha also has improved his finishes at the MAC Championships each season. He tied for 15th place as 2021, tied for fifth last year and captured the crown this season.
Players Mentioned
PLAYER
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Toledo Men's Golf - Barend Botha - Interview with Head Coach Jeff Roope
Wednesday, December 10
Toledo Women's Golf - Ali Green Press Conference 8/22/25
Friday, August 22
Toledo Women's Golf - Rocket Classic
Wednesday, January 08
