Sunday, April 28
Westfield, Ind. - The Club at Chatham Hills
All Day
University of Toledo
vs
Mid-American Conference Championships
Senior Barend Botha won his second straight MAC title on Sunday in Westfield, Ind.
Photo by: Bree Bee
Barend Botha Repeats as MAC Champion with 11-Under Par 205
4/28/2024 5:23:00 PM | Men's Golf
Rocket senior becomes first individual to win back-to-back conference titles in 34 years
WESTFIELD, Ind. – Senior Barend Botha won his second-straight Mid-American Conference individual title in dominating fashion on Sunday with a 54-hole total of 11-under par 205 at The Club at Chatham Hills.  Botha also was selected as the MAC's Golfer of the Year for a second straight season and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals that will be held at six different sites on May 13-15.
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"I came into the tournament knowing that I was defending my title," Botha said. "My goal was to put up a fight to keep it and not let it go easily. The conditions were tough today, but I managed to stay patient and control my emotions. It felt good taking it again."
Botha finished three strokes ahead of his nearest competitor to become the first individual in 34 years to capture back-to-back outright conference titles. Miami's Sean Gorgone was the last to accomplish the feat by winning the event in 1989 and 1990.
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"Barend really dominated the tournament individually from start to finish," Head Coach Jeff Roope said. "His future in the game is so bright. We've known that for quite some time, and his winning the MAC for a second straight season and being named MAC Golfer of the Year again just solidifies all he's accomplished in his time at Toledo. We're so proud of him and we know that he's going to do great things in this game for years and years and years to come."
Ball State captured the team title at 10-under par 854, three shots in front of runner-up Miami (857). Kent State and Northern Illinois tied for third place at 863, while Toledo placed fifth at 873.
Botha, who finished two strokes shy of tying his school 54-hole record, was never threatened today after posting consecutive birdies on No. 4, No. 5, and No. 6 to get to 14-under par. Botha birdied 18 of his 54 holes to tie runner-up Bryce Reed of Kent State (208) for the most in the tournament. He finished at nine-under on the par-fours and five-under on the par-fives.
"Barend played intelligent, no-nonsense golf on the fairways and greens," Roope said. "He played well on the par-5's and took advantage of the par-4's when he had a wedge in his hand."
The remainder of the Rockets' lineup included sophomore Mads Jensen finishing alone in 16th place with a three-over par 219, senior Jamie Tofte Nielsen tying for 22nd place at seven-over par 223, and senior Palmer Yenrick tying for 31st place with an 11-over par 227.
TEAM STANDINGS
1. Ball State 283-280-291=854 (-10); 2. Miami 283-283-291=857 (-7); T3. Kent State 288-290-285=863 (-1); T3. Northern Illinois 288-287-288=863 (-1); 5. TOLEDO 290-281-302=873 (+9); 6. Eastern Michigan 295-296-291=882 (+18); 7. Bowling Green 299-292-309=900 (+36); 8. Central Michigan 297-304-300=901 (+37); 9. Ohio 299-308-311=918 (+54)
TOP FIVE INDIVIDUALS
1. Barend Botha (TOLEDO) 67-66-71=204 (-12); 2. Bryce Reed (KSU) 71-71-66=208 (-8); 3. Ian Bruchhauser (NIU) 75-68-66=209 (-7); 4. Danny Fisher (Miami) 68-69-74=211 (-5); T5. Ali Khan (BSU) 70-70-72=212 (-4); T4. Kash Bellar (BSU) 70-69-73=212 (-4)
TOLEDO INDIVIDUALSÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
1. Barend Botha 67-66-71=204 (-12); 16. Mads Jensen 73-71-75=219 (+3); T22. Jamie Tofte Nielsen 75-68-80=223 (+7); 31. Palmer Yenrick 75-76-76=227 (+11); Sub. NJ Botha 76-81=157 (+13); Sub. CJ van Wyk 81 (+9)
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2024 MAC Men's Golf Awards
Golfer of the Year:Â Barend Botha, Toledo
Kermit Blosser Coach of the Year:Â Mike Fleck, Ball State
Freshman of the Year:Â Morgan Blythe, MiamiÂ
Earl Yestingsmeier Sportsmanship Award:Â Danny Fisher, Miami
MAC Individual Champion:Â Barend Botha, Toledo
Runner up Medalist: Bryce Reed, Kent State
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All-Tournament Team
Barend Botha, Toledo
Bryce Reed, Kent State
Ian Bruchhauser, Northern Illinois
Ali Khan, Ball State
Kash Bellar, Ball State
Danny Fisher, Miami
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"I came into the tournament knowing that I was defending my title," Botha said. "My goal was to put up a fight to keep it and not let it go easily. The conditions were tough today, but I managed to stay patient and control my emotions. It felt good taking it again."
Botha finished three strokes ahead of his nearest competitor to become the first individual in 34 years to capture back-to-back outright conference titles. Miami's Sean Gorgone was the last to accomplish the feat by winning the event in 1989 and 1990.
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"Barend really dominated the tournament individually from start to finish," Head Coach Jeff Roope said. "His future in the game is so bright. We've known that for quite some time, and his winning the MAC for a second straight season and being named MAC Golfer of the Year again just solidifies all he's accomplished in his time at Toledo. We're so proud of him and we know that he's going to do great things in this game for years and years and years to come."
Ball State captured the team title at 10-under par 854, three shots in front of runner-up Miami (857). Kent State and Northern Illinois tied for third place at 863, while Toledo placed fifth at 873.
Botha, who finished two strokes shy of tying his school 54-hole record, was never threatened today after posting consecutive birdies on No. 4, No. 5, and No. 6 to get to 14-under par. Botha birdied 18 of his 54 holes to tie runner-up Bryce Reed of Kent State (208) for the most in the tournament. He finished at nine-under on the par-fours and five-under on the par-fives.
"Barend played intelligent, no-nonsense golf on the fairways and greens," Roope said. "He played well on the par-5's and took advantage of the par-4's when he had a wedge in his hand."
The remainder of the Rockets' lineup included sophomore Mads Jensen finishing alone in 16th place with a three-over par 219, senior Jamie Tofte Nielsen tying for 22nd place at seven-over par 223, and senior Palmer Yenrick tying for 31st place with an 11-over par 227.
TEAM STANDINGS
1. Ball State 283-280-291=854 (-10); 2. Miami 283-283-291=857 (-7); T3. Kent State 288-290-285=863 (-1); T3. Northern Illinois 288-287-288=863 (-1); 5. TOLEDO 290-281-302=873 (+9); 6. Eastern Michigan 295-296-291=882 (+18); 7. Bowling Green 299-292-309=900 (+36); 8. Central Michigan 297-304-300=901 (+37); 9. Ohio 299-308-311=918 (+54)
TOP FIVE INDIVIDUALS
1. Barend Botha (TOLEDO) 67-66-71=204 (-12); 2. Bryce Reed (KSU) 71-71-66=208 (-8); 3. Ian Bruchhauser (NIU) 75-68-66=209 (-7); 4. Danny Fisher (Miami) 68-69-74=211 (-5); T5. Ali Khan (BSU) 70-70-72=212 (-4); T4. Kash Bellar (BSU) 70-69-73=212 (-4)
TOLEDO INDIVIDUALSÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
1. Barend Botha 67-66-71=204 (-12); 16. Mads Jensen 73-71-75=219 (+3); T22. Jamie Tofte Nielsen 75-68-80=223 (+7); 31. Palmer Yenrick 75-76-76=227 (+11); Sub. NJ Botha 76-81=157 (+13); Sub. CJ van Wyk 81 (+9)
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2024 MAC Men's Golf Awards
Golfer of the Year:Â Barend Botha, Toledo
Kermit Blosser Coach of the Year:Â Mike Fleck, Ball State
Freshman of the Year:Â Morgan Blythe, MiamiÂ
Earl Yestingsmeier Sportsmanship Award:Â Danny Fisher, Miami
MAC Individual Champion:Â Barend Botha, Toledo
Runner up Medalist: Bryce Reed, Kent State
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All-Tournament Team
Barend Botha, Toledo
Bryce Reed, Kent State
Ian Bruchhauser, Northern Illinois
Ali Khan, Ball State
Kash Bellar, Ball State
Danny Fisher, Miami
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Players Mentioned
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