Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sunday, April 27
Grove City, Ohio
All Day
Eastern Michigan University
at
MAC Championship
Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
Men's Golf Leads After Day One at MAC Championships
4/27/2025 5:24:00 PM | Men's Golf
James Baxter holds a one-stroke lead for medalist honors as well
GROVE CITY, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The first round of action at the 2025 Mid-American Conference Men's Golf Championships are in the books with Eastern Michigan University tied for the team lead and freshman James Baxter carrying a one-stroke lead in the individual standings following the first round of play at Pinnacle Golf Club in Grove City, Ohio, Sunday, April 27. The Eagles have two players in the top three with Rory McDonald-O'Brien sitting third on the par-72, 7,463-yard course just south of Columbus, Ohio.
As a team, the Eagles shot 3-under 285 to sit in a tie with Northern Illinois University for the top spot while No. 78 Kent State University sits third at even-par 288. The University of Toledo is fourth at 1-over 289 while Ball State University, the defending champions, are fifth at 5-over 293.
Individually, James Baxter (London, England/Highlands School & Sixth Form) is the clubhouse leader following an opening-round 5-under 67, one stroke ahead Craig Long II (NIU), who shot 4-under 68. Baxter, who carded his fourth round of 68 or better this season and his first since the second round of the White Sands Bahamas NCAA Men's Invitational (Oct. 26), tied for the second-lowest individual round recorded in program history at the MAC event, surpassed only by the 66 carded by Brett White in 2016. Baxter's 67 is the fifth round of 67 or better in program history at the conference tournament and 14th at 69 or better.
Rory McDonald-O'Brien (Shrewsbury, England/Shrewsbury School/South Carolina Aiken) sits third overall at 3-under 69 as he recorded the 15th round of 69 or lower at MAC event in EMU history while also posting the 11th-lowest single-round score by an Eagle at the conference tournament. The 69 marked his first sub-70 score of the season with the Eagles while standing as his 11th round of 69 or lower he has recorded as a collegiate golfer with the first 10 coming while playing for the University of South Carolina-Aiken.
Three other Eagles played in the first round with Daniel Robles Delval (Albacete, Spain/Escuela Nacional Blume/Rogers State) tied for 19th at 2-over 74; Tim Chan (Hong Kong, China/Loretto School/New Mexico JC/VCU) is tied for 25th at 3-over 75; and Bavake Sihota (Caledon, Ontario/Independent Learning Center/Michigan) stands tied for 33rd at 5-over 77.
Up Next
Action continues Monday, April 28, at 9 a.m. with tee times starting on holes No. 1 and No. 10. The Eagles will tee off from hole No. 1 starting at 9:50 a.m.
Results
MAC Championships
Pinnacle Golf Club • Grove City, Ohio
Par 72 • 7,463 yards • 54 holes
Sunday-Tuesday, April 27-29, 2025
Team Standings After Day 1
1. Eastern Michigan • 285 (-3)
1. Northern Illinois • 285 (-3)
3. #78 Kent State • 288 (E)
4. Toledo • 289 (+1)
5. Ball State • 293 (+5)
6. Bowling Green • 297 (+9)
6. #96 Miami • 297 (+9)
8. Central Michigan • 303 (+15)
9. Ohio • 308 (+20)
only top 100 rankings listed
Individual Results (Top 10 + EMU)
1. James Baxter (EM) • 67 (-5)
2. Craig Long II (NI) • 68 (-4)
3. Rory McDonald-O'Brien (EM) • 69 (-3)
4. Avery Mahoney (BS) • 70 (-2)
4. Bence Bertenyi (TOL) • 70 (-2)
4. Jamie Butler (TOL) • 70 (-2)
7. Evan Johnson (BGS) • 71 (-1)
7. #95 Jordan Gilkison (KS) • 71 (-1)
9. Beau Peterson (NI) • 72 (E)
9. Isaiah Ibit (KS) • 72 (E)
9. Edvin Backstrom (KS) • 72 (E)
9. Ben Sluzas (NI) • 72 (E)
-------
t19. Daniel Robles Delval • 74 (+2)
t25. Tim Chan • 75 (+3)
t33. Bavake Sihota • 77 (+5)
only top 200 rankings listed
As a team, the Eagles shot 3-under 285 to sit in a tie with Northern Illinois University for the top spot while No. 78 Kent State University sits third at even-par 288. The University of Toledo is fourth at 1-over 289 while Ball State University, the defending champions, are fifth at 5-over 293.
Hear from @JamesBaxter2005, the first round leader at the MAC Championships!#EMUEagles https://t.co/AARWjKqIu8
— Eastern Michigan Men's Golf (@EMU_Golf) April 27, 2025
Individually, James Baxter (London, England/Highlands School & Sixth Form) is the clubhouse leader following an opening-round 5-under 67, one stroke ahead Craig Long II (NIU), who shot 4-under 68. Baxter, who carded his fourth round of 68 or better this season and his first since the second round of the White Sands Bahamas NCAA Men's Invitational (Oct. 26), tied for the second-lowest individual round recorded in program history at the MAC event, surpassed only by the 66 carded by Brett White in 2016. Baxter's 67 is the fifth round of 67 or better in program history at the conference tournament and 14th at 69 or better.
Rory McDonald-O'Brien (Shrewsbury, England/Shrewsbury School/South Carolina Aiken) sits third overall at 3-under 69 as he recorded the 15th round of 69 or lower at MAC event in EMU history while also posting the 11th-lowest single-round score by an Eagle at the conference tournament. The 69 marked his first sub-70 score of the season with the Eagles while standing as his 11th round of 69 or lower he has recorded as a collegiate golfer with the first 10 coming while playing for the University of South Carolina-Aiken.
Three other Eagles played in the first round with Daniel Robles Delval (Albacete, Spain/Escuela Nacional Blume/Rogers State) tied for 19th at 2-over 74; Tim Chan (Hong Kong, China/Loretto School/New Mexico JC/VCU) is tied for 25th at 3-over 75; and Bavake Sihota (Caledon, Ontario/Independent Learning Center/Michigan) stands tied for 33rd at 5-over 77.
Up Next
Action continues Monday, April 28, at 9 a.m. with tee times starting on holes No. 1 and No. 10. The Eagles will tee off from hole No. 1 starting at 9:50 a.m.
Results
MAC Championships
Pinnacle Golf Club • Grove City, Ohio
Par 72 • 7,463 yards • 54 holes
Sunday-Tuesday, April 27-29, 2025
Team Standings After Day 1
1. Eastern Michigan • 285 (-3)
1. Northern Illinois • 285 (-3)
3. #78 Kent State • 288 (E)
4. Toledo • 289 (+1)
5. Ball State • 293 (+5)
6. Bowling Green • 297 (+9)
6. #96 Miami • 297 (+9)
8. Central Michigan • 303 (+15)
9. Ohio • 308 (+20)
only top 100 rankings listed
Individual Results (Top 10 + EMU)
1. James Baxter (EM) • 67 (-5)
2. Craig Long II (NI) • 68 (-4)
3. Rory McDonald-O'Brien (EM) • 69 (-3)
4. Avery Mahoney (BS) • 70 (-2)
4. Bence Bertenyi (TOL) • 70 (-2)
4. Jamie Butler (TOL) • 70 (-2)
7. Evan Johnson (BGS) • 71 (-1)
7. #95 Jordan Gilkison (KS) • 71 (-1)
9. Beau Peterson (NI) • 72 (E)
9. Isaiah Ibit (KS) • 72 (E)
9. Edvin Backstrom (KS) • 72 (E)
9. Ben Sluzas (NI) • 72 (E)
-------
t19. Daniel Robles Delval • 74 (+2)
t25. Tim Chan • 75 (+3)
t33. Bavake Sihota • 77 (+5)
only top 200 rankings listed
Players Mentioned
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