Barend Botha Extends Lead to Four Strokes at MAC Championships with Six-Under 66

Saturday, April 27

Westfield, Ind. - The Club at Chatham Hills

All Day

University of Toledo

Mid-American Conference Championships

Senior Barend Botha holds a four-shot lead entering the final round of the MAC Championships in Westfield, Ind.

Photo by: Michael Hickey

Barend Botha Extends Lead to Four Strokes at MAC Championships with Six-Under 66

4/27/2024 5:20:00 PM | Men's Golf

Day Two Results (PDF)

Rockets move into third place in team standings, eight shots out of lead

WESTFIELD, Ind. – Senior Barend Botha shot a six-under par 66 on Saturday to expand his lead to four strokes following the second round of the Mid-American Conference Men's Golf Championships at The Club at Chatham Hills. Botha's play helped Toledo move into third place in the team standings at five-under par on the par-72, 7,180-yard layout.

The Rockets posted the second-best team score today with a seven-under par 281 and stand at five-under par through 36 holes. UT trails first-place Ball State (563) by eight shots, with Miami (566) in second place three shots behind the Cardinals.

Botha, who is looking to repeat as the conference's individual champion, registered an eagle and seven birdies in today's round. He shot three-under on both the front nine and back nine, with his eagle coming on a shot out of the bunker on the par-five, 517-yard No. 13 hole.

"Barend is playing quite well," Head Coach Jeff Roope said. "His golf is beginning to match the expectations he has for himself and the hours he invests in the process. The rest of the team is grinding hard to match his output and keep this team in the mix. I know they're looking forward to Sunday."

Senior Jamie Tofte Nielsen is tied for 11^th place and posted the Rockets' second-best round of the day. He rebounded from an opening-round 75 with a four-under par 68 by registering three birdies on both the front and back nine.

Sophomore Mads Jensen is one shot behind Nielsen and tied for 13^th place. He shot a one-under par 71 and was at two-under par before bogeying his final hole.

Senior Palmer Yenrick is tied for 30^th place with a seven-over par 151 after shooting a four-over par 76 today. Senior NJ Botha also shot a 76 today as a substitute for junior CJ van Wyk.

The Rockets' tee times in tomorrow's final round will begin at 9:50 a.m.

TEAM STANDINGS
1. Ball State 283-280=563 (-13); 2. Miami 283-283=566 (-10); 3. TOLEDO 290-281=571 (-5); 4. Northern Illinois 288-287=575 (-1); 5. Kent State 288-290=578 (+2); T6. Eastern Michigan 295-296=591 (+15); T6. Bowling Green 299-292=591 (+15); 8. Central Michigan 297-304=601 (+25); 9. Ohio 299-308=607 (+31)

TOP FIVE INDIVIDUALS
1. Barend Botha (TOLEDO) 67-66=133 (-11); T2. Danny Fisher (Miami) 68-69=137 (-7); T2. Michael Weber (Miami) 70-67=137 (-7); T4. Kash Bellar (BSU) 70-69=139 (-5); T4. Jordan Gilkison (KSU) 69-70=139 (-5)

TOLEDO INDIVIDUALS
1. Barend Botha 67-66=133 (-11); T11. Jamie Tofte Nielsen 75-68=143 (-1); T13. Mads Jensen 73-71=144 (E); T30. Palmer Yenrick 75-76=151 (+7); Sub. NJ Botha 76 (+4); Sub. CJ van Wyk 81 (+9)