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.
“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.”
Senior golfer Barend Botha hugs a teammate after winning back-to-back MAC championships.
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.
“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 one stroke shy of tying his school 54-hole record, was never threatened 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.
