EMU Men's Golf Finishes Third at MAC Championships

Complete Results (PDF). | Season Statistics.

CHARDON, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – Despite firing a final round 290, the Eastern Michigan University men's golf team could only move up one spot on the final day of the 2015 Mid-American Conference Championship to finish in third-place with a 72-hole cumulative score of 1,174 (290-294-300-290). Miami University captured its league title since 1996, finishing at eight-over par 1,160 (287-289-294-290) on the par 72, 7,245 yard Mayfield Sand Ridge Club – Sand Ridge course.

The showing was the best by Head Coach Bruce Cunningham's crew since 2011-12 when the squad finished as the runner-up. Additionally, it marked the ninth time in the last 11 years that EMU had recorded a top-three league showing, a streak only equaled by Kent State University over that same time frame.

Freshman Nicholas Ross (Dundas, Ontario, Canada-Highland Secondary) finished in a tie for eighth-place with a three-day total of 290 (71-74-77-68) after equaling his career-low with a four-under 68. The tally was tied with Bowling Green State University's Joe Cooper for the lowest of the day. Coincidentally, Ross' finish is the best by an EMU freshman since his brother, Christopher Ross, tied for seventh with a 282 (74-74-70-74) at the 2006 MAC Championships in Indianapolis, Ind.

Ball State's Johnny Watts claimed individual medalist honors with a one-over 287 (76-71-67-73) earning him a two shot victory over Kent State's Ian Holt and Miami's Scott Cahill.

Senior Michael Blair (Ancaster, Ontario, Canada-Nelson-Pfeiffer) placed 10th with a 291 (72-74-73-72). The finish was Blair's third career top-10 showing and the ninth by an Eagle this season.

Sunday's round of 290 was a culmination of a convincing week which saw Miami win for the first time in 19 years. The RedHawks were followed by Toledo (1,168), Eastern Michigan (1,174) and Northern Illinois (1,179). While Kent State (1,187), Bowling Green (1,188), Ball State (1,189), Ohio (1,194) and Akron (1,201) rounded out the team standings.

For the tournament, three of the five Eagles ranked in the top 15, including junior Brett White (Caledonia, Mich.-East Kentwood) who finished 16th with a 295 (73-71-76-75). Sophomore Kyle Rodes (Plymouth, Mich.-Plymouth) and junior Jared Multer (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview-Grand Rapids C.C.) rounded out the lineup in 29th and 31st place, respectively.

Cunningham and the rest of the Eagles will now await the announcement of the teams that will participate in the six NCAA regional championships, May 15-17. The 2015 regional sites are: Sagamore Club in Noblesville, Ind. (Ball State), UNC's Finley Golf Course in Chapel Hill, N.C. (UNC), the Farms Golf Club in San Diego, Calif. (UC San Diego), the Rawls Course in Lubbock, Texas (Texas Tech), the Gold Mountain Golf Club in Bremerton, Wash. (Washington) and the The Course at Yale (Yale).

Eastern Michigan Individual Results:
Pl.   Player   Scores
t-8 .   Nicholas Ross   71-74-77-68=290
t-10.    Michael Blair    72-74-73-72=291
t-16.   Brett White   73-71-76-75=295
29.    Kyle Rodes    76-75-75-75=301
31.   Jared Multer    74-78-76-75=303

Team Scores:
Pl.    Team    Scores
1.    Miami     287-289-294-290=1160
2.    Toledo    296-293-289-290=1168
3.    Eastern Michigan    290-294-300-290=1174
4.    Northern Illinois    304-300-290-285=1179
5.    Kent State    302-295-293-297=1187
6.    Bowling Green     291-311-292-294=1188
7.    Ball State    298-287-296-308=1189
8.    Ohio    307-289-302-296=1194
9.    Akron    304-302-300-295=1201

Freshman of the Year
Patrick Flavin, Miami

Golfer of the Year
Chris Selfridge, Toledo

Kermit Blosser Coach of the Year
Zac Zedrick, Miami

Earl Yestingsmeier Sportsman of the Year
McCormick Clouser, Ball State

All-MAC First Team
Johnny Watts, Ball State
Jose Narro, Bowling Green
Josh Whalen, Kent State
Patrick Flavin, Miami
Otto Black, Toledo
Chris Selfridge, Toledo

All-MAC Second Team
McCormick Clouser, Ball State
Ian Holt, Kent State
Chase Johnson, Kent State
Scott Cahill, Miami
Peyton White, Ohio

All-Tournament Team
Johnny Watts, Ball State
Ian Holt, Kent State
Scott Cahill, Miami
Patrick Flavin, Miami
Jack Starling, Miami
Peyton White, Ohio
Chris Selfridge, Toledo

Individual Champion
Johnny Watts, Ball State

Runner-Up Medalist
Ian Holt, Kent State
Scott Cahill, Miami

Players Mentioned

Michael Blair

Jared Multer

Kyle Rodes

Nic Ross

Brett White

Eastern Michigan Athletics