Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, April 18
Columbus, Ohio
All Day
Eastern Michigan University
at
Robert Kepler Intercollegiate
Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
Golf Caps Regular Season at OSU’s Kepler Tourney
4/16/2025 5:30:00 PM | Men's Golf
Eagles will return to the Columbus area one week later for the MAC Championships
| 2025 Robert Kepler Intercollegiate | |
| Date | Friday-Saturday, April 18-19, 2025 |
| Venue | Ohio State Golf Club - Scarlet Course | Columbus, Ohio |
| Course Info | Par 71 | 7,455 yards |
| Notes/Stats | EMU Notes (pdf) |
| Live Results | Scoreboard |
| Social Media | X: EMU_Golf | Instagram: EasternMichiganMensGolf |
COLUMBUS, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University men's golf team is set to compete in its final tune-up for the postseason as the Eagles will play in the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate, April 18-19, in Columbus, Ohio. The final tournament of regular season, hosted by Ohio State University, will be played on the par-71, 7,455-yard Scarlet Course at the OSU Golf Club and will feature 13 teams in the field, including fellow Mid-American Conference foe Kent State University.
THIS WEEK'S LINE UP
Here are the Eagles that will compete at the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate:
» Rory McDonald-O'Brien (Jr.) • 73.5 avg. | Posted season-best T-8th at The Stitch Intercollegiate (April 12-13)
» Daniel Robles Delval (Jr.) • 73.2 avg. | Season-best 5th-place finish (-6, 210) at Desert Mountain (March 8-9)
» Tim Chan (Sr.) • 72.5 avg. | Carded a school-record 63 at White Sands; #2 all-time 54-hole scored 202 as well
» Bavake Sihota (Sr.) • 75.3 avg. | Finished a season-best T-22nd at the Virtues Intercollegiate
» James Baxter (Fr.) • 74.0 avg. | Fired a team-best 68 (-4) in the second round at Southern Dunes
CHIP INS
» The Robert Kepler Intercollegiate is the final event of the regular season before the Eagles head to the 2025 MAC Championships, April 27-20, at Pinnacle Golf Club in Grove City, Ohio.
» Of the five players in the lineup this week, four have recorded multiple top 20 finishes with Tim Chan and Daniel Robles Delval each posting two top 10 showings. Rory McDonald-O'Brien earned one top 10 finish, which came last week at The Stitch Intercollegiate, where he tied for eighth.
» Through play at The Stitch Intercollegiate, three Eagles carry season scoring averages that rank among the top 25 in program history, led by Tim Chan, who is tied for eighth at 72.5. Also on the list are Daniel Robles Delval (t-19th at 73.2) and Rory McDonald-O'Brien (t-23rd at 73.5). The three players in the top 25 marks the second-most in a single season behind the four on the ledger from the 2018-19 squad that won the MAC title.
» As a team, the Eagles sport a 291.8 four-player season average, which currently is tied for the third-best average in program history. It also is currently only the fourth season average at 291.9 or lower in EMU history.
» Tim Chan fired a program-record 63 in the second round at White Sands, surpassing the 64 shot six times previously by five different players with the last coming in 2018 (Tyler Lewis).
» Tim Chan finished third at White Sands with a 14-under 202. His 202 ranks as the second-lowest in program history behind Tyler Lewis' 200 (Feb. 25-26, 2018) at the Loyola Intercollegiate.
» Tim Chan and James Baxter lead the team with two eagles each this year and pace the team in birdies with 55 and 45, respectively, through 14 rounds played.
» Andy Walker was named the 2023-24 Black College Golf Coaches Association Coach of the Year for the second time in his career after guiding his former school, VCU, to another stellar season.
RECAP: THE STITCH
Eastern last competed at The Stitch Intercollegiate at the Lonnie Poole Golf Course in Raleigh, N.C., April 11-12, with the Eagles finishing sixth overall at 16-over 868 (292-286-290), one stroke ahead of No. 91 UNC Wilmington. No. 99 Lipscomb (1-over 853) won the team title with No. 84 UNC Greensboro (4-over 856) and No. 58 NC State (6-over 858) rounding out the top 3. Individually, Rory McDonald-O'Brien tied for eighth at 1-over 214 (72-71-71) to lead the Eagles with Tim Chan tying for 20th at 3-over 216 (74-68-74) to give EMU two top 20 finishers.
TOURNAMENT INFO: KEPLER
Thirteen teams are slated to compete at the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate with two rounds being played Friday, April 18, and the final round Saturday, April 19, with both days starting at 7:30 a.m. with players coming off No. 1 and No. 10 on the Ohio State University Golf Club - Scarlet Course. The course, which underwent major restorations spearheaded by famed OSU golfer Jack Nicklaus in 2005 and 2006, will play at 7,455 yards (par 71). Along with the Eagles and host Buckeyes, the field will also feature: Cal Poly, Colorado State, Creighton, Kansas City, Kent State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Omaha, St. John's (NY), St. Thomas (MN), and Tarleton State.
TOURNAMENT HISTORY: KEPLER
Eastern Michigan is taking part in the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate for the 27th time after placing 15th last year at 51-over 903. The Eagles won the 2010 event with an 861 (287-288-286), which ranks as the 10th-best 54-hole score in the history of the event that was first played in 1969. The Eagles first played in the event in 1975 and have finished in the top three other times, including 1981 (8th), 2009 (8th), and 2011 (9th).
RANKED TEAMS - KEPLER
Four of the 13 teams in the field are ranked among the national top 100 according to the April 19 release of the Scoreboard/Clippd rankings with No. 45 Colorado State leading the way. The remaining top 100 squads include No. 80 Kent State, No. 82 Nebraska, and No. 84 Ohio State. Two other teams are in the top 150, including No. 106 Minnesota and No. 117 Cal Poly, with the Eagles just outside at No. 155.
RANKED INDIVIDUALS - KEPLER
Four players scheduled to compete are among the top 200 in the individual national rankings with Kent State's Jordan Gilikson leading the way at No. 91. The remaining competitors include No. 129 Baron Szeto of Cal Poly, No. 176 Christoph Bleier of Colorado State, and No. 191 Rudy Sautron of Nebraska.
ON THE LIST • INDIVIDUAL AVERAGE
Heading into the final tournament of the regular season, three Eagles are ranked in the program's top 25 for best season scoring average with Tim Chan leading the way as his current 72.5 average ranks tied for eighth. Joining him on the list is Daniel Robles Delval, who is tied for 19th at 73.2, and Rory McDonald-O'Brien, who it tied for 23rd at 73.5. McDonald-O'Brien joined the ledger this week for the first time after lowering his average by 0.2 following his 1-over 214 at The Stitch Intercollegiate.
THREE'S COMPANY
With three players in the top 25 of single season scoring average, the 2024-25 Eagles are in rare company as the trio of Tim Chan, Daniel Robles Delval, and Rory McDonald-O'Brien are one of three sets of teammates on the current list. The 2018-19 squad, who won the MAC title, lead the way with four players in the top 25, including Beau Breault (1st at 71.8), Ty Celone (2nd at 71.9), Cougar Collins (t-18th at 73.1), and Zach Sudinsky (22nd at 73.4). The only other squad with three players on the same list are the 2016-17 Eagles that feature Kyle Rodes (3rd at 72.1), Jared Multer (t-25th at 73.6), and Nic Ross (t-25th at 73.6).
ON THE LIST • TEAM AVERAGE
As a team, the Eagles hold a four-player season average of 291.8, which is tied for the third-lowest in program history (since 1969-70) with the 2019-20 team. One of just four squads to hold an average under 292.0, only two teams are ahead of this year's squad, including the 2018-19 Eagles, who are first at 289.1, and the 2016-17 Eagles, who are second at 290.4.
CHAN GOES LOW
Tim Chan made major edits to the program's record book as he added his name to the top of the single-round list and moved into second on the three-round tournament ledger after play at the White Sands event (Oct. 25-27). In the second round (Oct. 26), he carded an 11-under 63 to break the school record of 64 that was recorded six times by five different players with the last coming Feb. 26, 2018, but Tyler Lewis at the Loyola Intercollegiate. In that same tournament, Lewis finished with a 16-under 200 to set the school record for 54 holes with Chan's 202 in the Bahamas now ranking second all-time at EMU.
ON THE HORIZON
The next time the Eagles step on the course to compete, they will do so for conference gold as the 2025 Mid-American Conference Championships await them April 27-29 at Pinnacle Golf Club in Grove City, Ohio. The three-day tournament just south of Columbus will see nine teams compete for the team and individual crown with action starting each day at 9 a.m.
THIS WEEK'S LINE UP
Here are the Eagles that will compete at the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate:
» Rory McDonald-O'Brien (Jr.) • 73.5 avg. | Posted season-best T-8th at The Stitch Intercollegiate (April 12-13)
» Daniel Robles Delval (Jr.) • 73.2 avg. | Season-best 5th-place finish (-6, 210) at Desert Mountain (March 8-9)
» Tim Chan (Sr.) • 72.5 avg. | Carded a school-record 63 at White Sands; #2 all-time 54-hole scored 202 as well
» Bavake Sihota (Sr.) • 75.3 avg. | Finished a season-best T-22nd at the Virtues Intercollegiate
» James Baxter (Fr.) • 74.0 avg. | Fired a team-best 68 (-4) in the second round at Southern Dunes
CHIP INS
» The Robert Kepler Intercollegiate is the final event of the regular season before the Eagles head to the 2025 MAC Championships, April 27-20, at Pinnacle Golf Club in Grove City, Ohio.
» Of the five players in the lineup this week, four have recorded multiple top 20 finishes with Tim Chan and Daniel Robles Delval each posting two top 10 showings. Rory McDonald-O'Brien earned one top 10 finish, which came last week at The Stitch Intercollegiate, where he tied for eighth.
» Through play at The Stitch Intercollegiate, three Eagles carry season scoring averages that rank among the top 25 in program history, led by Tim Chan, who is tied for eighth at 72.5. Also on the list are Daniel Robles Delval (t-19th at 73.2) and Rory McDonald-O'Brien (t-23rd at 73.5). The three players in the top 25 marks the second-most in a single season behind the four on the ledger from the 2018-19 squad that won the MAC title.
» As a team, the Eagles sport a 291.8 four-player season average, which currently is tied for the third-best average in program history. It also is currently only the fourth season average at 291.9 or lower in EMU history.
» Tim Chan fired a program-record 63 in the second round at White Sands, surpassing the 64 shot six times previously by five different players with the last coming in 2018 (Tyler Lewis).
» Tim Chan finished third at White Sands with a 14-under 202. His 202 ranks as the second-lowest in program history behind Tyler Lewis' 200 (Feb. 25-26, 2018) at the Loyola Intercollegiate.
» Tim Chan and James Baxter lead the team with two eagles each this year and pace the team in birdies with 55 and 45, respectively, through 14 rounds played.
» Andy Walker was named the 2023-24 Black College Golf Coaches Association Coach of the Year for the second time in his career after guiding his former school, VCU, to another stellar season.
RECAP: THE STITCH
Eastern last competed at The Stitch Intercollegiate at the Lonnie Poole Golf Course in Raleigh, N.C., April 11-12, with the Eagles finishing sixth overall at 16-over 868 (292-286-290), one stroke ahead of No. 91 UNC Wilmington. No. 99 Lipscomb (1-over 853) won the team title with No. 84 UNC Greensboro (4-over 856) and No. 58 NC State (6-over 858) rounding out the top 3. Individually, Rory McDonald-O'Brien tied for eighth at 1-over 214 (72-71-71) to lead the Eagles with Tim Chan tying for 20th at 3-over 216 (74-68-74) to give EMU two top 20 finishers.
TOURNAMENT INFO: KEPLER
Thirteen teams are slated to compete at the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate with two rounds being played Friday, April 18, and the final round Saturday, April 19, with both days starting at 7:30 a.m. with players coming off No. 1 and No. 10 on the Ohio State University Golf Club - Scarlet Course. The course, which underwent major restorations spearheaded by famed OSU golfer Jack Nicklaus in 2005 and 2006, will play at 7,455 yards (par 71). Along with the Eagles and host Buckeyes, the field will also feature: Cal Poly, Colorado State, Creighton, Kansas City, Kent State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Omaha, St. John's (NY), St. Thomas (MN), and Tarleton State.
TOURNAMENT HISTORY: KEPLER
Eastern Michigan is taking part in the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate for the 27th time after placing 15th last year at 51-over 903. The Eagles won the 2010 event with an 861 (287-288-286), which ranks as the 10th-best 54-hole score in the history of the event that was first played in 1969. The Eagles first played in the event in 1975 and have finished in the top three other times, including 1981 (8th), 2009 (8th), and 2011 (9th).
RANKED TEAMS - KEPLER
Four of the 13 teams in the field are ranked among the national top 100 according to the April 19 release of the Scoreboard/Clippd rankings with No. 45 Colorado State leading the way. The remaining top 100 squads include No. 80 Kent State, No. 82 Nebraska, and No. 84 Ohio State. Two other teams are in the top 150, including No. 106 Minnesota and No. 117 Cal Poly, with the Eagles just outside at No. 155.
RANKED INDIVIDUALS - KEPLER
Four players scheduled to compete are among the top 200 in the individual national rankings with Kent State's Jordan Gilikson leading the way at No. 91. The remaining competitors include No. 129 Baron Szeto of Cal Poly, No. 176 Christoph Bleier of Colorado State, and No. 191 Rudy Sautron of Nebraska.
ON THE LIST • INDIVIDUAL AVERAGE
Heading into the final tournament of the regular season, three Eagles are ranked in the program's top 25 for best season scoring average with Tim Chan leading the way as his current 72.5 average ranks tied for eighth. Joining him on the list is Daniel Robles Delval, who is tied for 19th at 73.2, and Rory McDonald-O'Brien, who it tied for 23rd at 73.5. McDonald-O'Brien joined the ledger this week for the first time after lowering his average by 0.2 following his 1-over 214 at The Stitch Intercollegiate.
THREE'S COMPANY
With three players in the top 25 of single season scoring average, the 2024-25 Eagles are in rare company as the trio of Tim Chan, Daniel Robles Delval, and Rory McDonald-O'Brien are one of three sets of teammates on the current list. The 2018-19 squad, who won the MAC title, lead the way with four players in the top 25, including Beau Breault (1st at 71.8), Ty Celone (2nd at 71.9), Cougar Collins (t-18th at 73.1), and Zach Sudinsky (22nd at 73.4). The only other squad with three players on the same list are the 2016-17 Eagles that feature Kyle Rodes (3rd at 72.1), Jared Multer (t-25th at 73.6), and Nic Ross (t-25th at 73.6).
ON THE LIST • TEAM AVERAGE
As a team, the Eagles hold a four-player season average of 291.8, which is tied for the third-lowest in program history (since 1969-70) with the 2019-20 team. One of just four squads to hold an average under 292.0, only two teams are ahead of this year's squad, including the 2018-19 Eagles, who are first at 289.1, and the 2016-17 Eagles, who are second at 290.4.
CHAN GOES LOW
Tim Chan made major edits to the program's record book as he added his name to the top of the single-round list and moved into second on the three-round tournament ledger after play at the White Sands event (Oct. 25-27). In the second round (Oct. 26), he carded an 11-under 63 to break the school record of 64 that was recorded six times by five different players with the last coming Feb. 26, 2018, but Tyler Lewis at the Loyola Intercollegiate. In that same tournament, Lewis finished with a 16-under 200 to set the school record for 54 holes with Chan's 202 in the Bahamas now ranking second all-time at EMU.
ON THE HORIZON
The next time the Eagles step on the course to compete, they will do so for conference gold as the 2025 Mid-American Conference Championships await them April 27-29 at Pinnacle Golf Club in Grove City, Ohio. The three-day tournament just south of Columbus will see nine teams compete for the team and individual crown with action starting each day at 9 a.m.
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