Eastern Michigan Athletics
Monday, May 4
Zionsville, IN
9 a.m.
Eastern Michigan University
at
MAC Championships
Photo by: Mid-American Conference
EMU Holds 36-Hole Lead at MAC Golf Championships
5/4/2026 5:02:00 PM | Men's Golf
Freshman Joshua Hess is tied for the lead with three Eagles in the top five
ZIONSVILLE, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – Joshua Hess moved into a tie for the individual lead, three Eagles are among the top three in the standings, and the team holds the overall lead following the second day of play for the Eastern Michigan University men's golf team at the 2026 Mid-American Conference Golf Championships, May 4, at The Club at Holliday Farms in Zionsville, Ind. Eastern held off a strong run from Miami University to retain its overall lead with one round to play on the par-71, 7,349-yard course outside of Indianapolis.
The Eagles shot 12-over 296 on the day to sit in first place at 16-over 584 with the RedHawks just behind them at 17-over 585 after shooting 5-over 289 on the day. Northern Illinois University is third overall at 25-over 593 while Central Michigan University is fourth at 35-over 603. The top five is rounded out by a trio of teams tied for fifth at 39-over 607, including Ball State University, Bowling Green State University, and defending champion Kent State University.
Individually, freshman Hess (Schattdorf, Switzerland/Montverde Academy (Fla.)) carded a 2-over 72 in the second round to move to even-par 142 (70-72) and climb one spot in the standings into a tie for the overall lead. Hess, who shares the lead with NIU's Patrick Raupp, gives the program the 36-hole leader at the MAC Championships for the second consecutive year after Rory McDonald-O'Brien (Shrewsbury, England/Shrewsbury School/USC-Aiken) held the distinction last year before placing second. McDonald-O'Brien is within striking distance of the top position as well as he sits tied for third at 3-over 145 (70-75).
Robby Turnbull (Auckland, New Zealand/Selwyn College) moved up two spots into a tie for fifth as he shot 1-over 72 on the day to sit at 4-over 146 (74-72). Should the three Eagles retain or improve their standings following the final round, it would mark the first time in program history Eastern would place three players in the top five of the MAC Championships after twice seeing two top five finishes in the same tournament previously (2007 and 2009).
Charlie Box (Leicester, England/Wreake Valley Academy/Hutchinson CC) is tied for 21st at 1-over 152 (74-78) to round out the Eagles that played both rounds. Tim Chan (Hong Kong, China/Loretto School/VCU) played as a substitute for the Eagles in round two and shot 6-over 77.
Individual Notes
» Despite shooting 2-over 72, Joshua Hess moved up one spot into a tie for the lead with first-round leader Patrick Raupp of Northern Illinois. Hess is on pace for his first collegiate top five finish and his second career top 10 after the freshman tied for 10th at the Pearl at Kalauao Invitational in Hawai'i, Nov. 5-6, earlier this season.
» Eastern has a player in first place after 36 holes for the second consecutive season after Rory McDonald-O'Brien was in the top spot last year before taking second. This year, he sits tied for third, three strokes off the lead set by his teammate, Joshua Hess, and NIU's Patrick Raupp, who at even-par 142.
» Robby Turnbull turned in a 1-over 72 on the day to move up two spots into a tie for fifth place at 4-over 146. The freshman is looking for his first top five showing this year and his third top 10 after his tie for sixth at the Hal Williams Collegiate (Feb. 16-17) and tie for eighth at the All-American Collegiate (March 17-18).
Team Notes
» Eastern is one round away from adding its fourth MAC Championship and its first since the rain-shortened, 36-hole victory in 2019. The Eagles held the 36-hole lead one year ago but finished third after falling behind Kent State and Ball State on the final day.
» Eastern is on pace to see three players finish in the top five individually. Should this happen, it would mark the first time in program history it has happened with Eastern finishing a MAC event with two players in the top 5 twice. The first instance came in 2007 when Graham Hill won the title and Chris Ross tied for fourth. The last time it happened was two years later in 2009 with Nick Carbary and Cam Burke placing fourth and tied for fifth, respectively.
Up Next
The final round of action gets underway at 9 a.m., May 5, with the Eagles paired with Miami and Northern Illinois. The team at the top of the standings following the round will earn the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Regionals, which will be announced on Golf Channel at 2 p.m. May 6.
Results
2026 MAC Championships
The Club at Holliday Farms • Zionsville, Ind.
Round 2 • Monday, May 4, 2026
Par 71 • 7,349 yards
Team Standings
1. Eastern Michigan [#98] • 288-296=584 (+16)
2. Miami • 296-289=585 (+17)
3. Northern Illinois • 297-296=593 (+25)
4. Central Michigan • 300-303=603 (+35)
t5. Bowling Green • 305-302=607 (+39)
t5. Ball State • 308-299=607 (+39)
t5. Kent State • 304-303=607 (+39)
8. Ohio • 311-304=615 (+47)
9. Toledo • 318-306=624 (+56)
Top 100 rankings (April 30 Scoreboard/Clippd) listed
Individual Results (Top 10)
t1. Joshua Hess (EM) • 70-72=142 (E)
t1. Patrick Raupp (NI) • 69-73=142 (E)
t3. Rory McDonald-O'Brien (EM) • 70-75=145 (+3)
t3. Bence Kotel (UT) • 76-69=145 (+3)
t5. Robby Turnbull (EM) • 74-72=146 (+4)
t5. Liam Nelson (MU) • 70-76=146 (+4)
t5. Angelo Luciani (BG) • 73-73=146 (+4)
t5. Tyler Anderson (MU) • 75-71=146 (+4)
9. Michael Weber (MU) • 80-67=147 (+5)
t10. Nolan Haynes (KS) • 74-74=148 (+6)
t10. Beau Petersen (NI) • 78-70=148 (+6)
----------------------------------
t21. Charlie Box • 74-78=152 (+10)
t44. Tim Chan • sub-77=77 (+6)
t44. Leo Mihaich • 77-sub=77 (+6)
Top 200 individual rankings (April 30 Scoreboard/Clippd) listed
The Eagles shot 12-over 296 on the day to sit in first place at 16-over 584 with the RedHawks just behind them at 17-over 585 after shooting 5-over 289 on the day. Northern Illinois University is third overall at 25-over 593 while Central Michigan University is fourth at 35-over 603. The top five is rounded out by a trio of teams tied for fifth at 39-over 607, including Ball State University, Bowling Green State University, and defending champion Kent State University.
Individually, freshman Hess (Schattdorf, Switzerland/Montverde Academy (Fla.)) carded a 2-over 72 in the second round to move to even-par 142 (70-72) and climb one spot in the standings into a tie for the overall lead. Hess, who shares the lead with NIU's Patrick Raupp, gives the program the 36-hole leader at the MAC Championships for the second consecutive year after Rory McDonald-O'Brien (Shrewsbury, England/Shrewsbury School/USC-Aiken) held the distinction last year before placing second. McDonald-O'Brien is within striking distance of the top position as well as he sits tied for third at 3-over 145 (70-75).
Robby Turnbull (Auckland, New Zealand/Selwyn College) moved up two spots into a tie for fifth as he shot 1-over 72 on the day to sit at 4-over 146 (74-72). Should the three Eagles retain or improve their standings following the final round, it would mark the first time in program history Eastern would place three players in the top five of the MAC Championships after twice seeing two top five finishes in the same tournament previously (2007 and 2009).
Charlie Box (Leicester, England/Wreake Valley Academy/Hutchinson CC) is tied for 21st at 1-over 152 (74-78) to round out the Eagles that played both rounds. Tim Chan (Hong Kong, China/Loretto School/VCU) played as a substitute for the Eagles in round two and shot 6-over 77.
Individual Notes
» Despite shooting 2-over 72, Joshua Hess moved up one spot into a tie for the lead with first-round leader Patrick Raupp of Northern Illinois. Hess is on pace for his first collegiate top five finish and his second career top 10 after the freshman tied for 10th at the Pearl at Kalauao Invitational in Hawai'i, Nov. 5-6, earlier this season.
» Eastern has a player in first place after 36 holes for the second consecutive season after Rory McDonald-O'Brien was in the top spot last year before taking second. This year, he sits tied for third, three strokes off the lead set by his teammate, Joshua Hess, and NIU's Patrick Raupp, who at even-par 142.
» Robby Turnbull turned in a 1-over 72 on the day to move up two spots into a tie for fifth place at 4-over 146. The freshman is looking for his first top five showing this year and his third top 10 after his tie for sixth at the Hal Williams Collegiate (Feb. 16-17) and tie for eighth at the All-American Collegiate (March 17-18).
Team Notes
» Eastern is one round away from adding its fourth MAC Championship and its first since the rain-shortened, 36-hole victory in 2019. The Eagles held the 36-hole lead one year ago but finished third after falling behind Kent State and Ball State on the final day.
» Eastern is on pace to see three players finish in the top five individually. Should this happen, it would mark the first time in program history it has happened with Eastern finishing a MAC event with two players in the top 5 twice. The first instance came in 2007 when Graham Hill won the title and Chris Ross tied for fourth. The last time it happened was two years later in 2009 with Nick Carbary and Cam Burke placing fourth and tied for fifth, respectively.
Up Next
The final round of action gets underway at 9 a.m., May 5, with the Eagles paired with Miami and Northern Illinois. The team at the top of the standings following the round will earn the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Regionals, which will be announced on Golf Channel at 2 p.m. May 6.
Results
2026 MAC Championships
The Club at Holliday Farms • Zionsville, Ind.
Round 2 • Monday, May 4, 2026
Par 71 • 7,349 yards
Team Standings
1. Eastern Michigan [#98] • 288-296=584 (+16)
2. Miami • 296-289=585 (+17)
3. Northern Illinois • 297-296=593 (+25)
4. Central Michigan • 300-303=603 (+35)
t5. Bowling Green • 305-302=607 (+39)
t5. Ball State • 308-299=607 (+39)
t5. Kent State • 304-303=607 (+39)
8. Ohio • 311-304=615 (+47)
9. Toledo • 318-306=624 (+56)
Top 100 rankings (April 30 Scoreboard/Clippd) listed
Individual Results (Top 10)
t1. Joshua Hess (EM) • 70-72=142 (E)
t1. Patrick Raupp (NI) • 69-73=142 (E)
t3. Rory McDonald-O'Brien (EM) • 70-75=145 (+3)
t3. Bence Kotel (UT) • 76-69=145 (+3)
t5. Robby Turnbull (EM) • 74-72=146 (+4)
t5. Liam Nelson (MU) • 70-76=146 (+4)
t5. Angelo Luciani (BG) • 73-73=146 (+4)
t5. Tyler Anderson (MU) • 75-71=146 (+4)
9. Michael Weber (MU) • 80-67=147 (+5)
t10. Nolan Haynes (KS) • 74-74=148 (+6)
t10. Beau Petersen (NI) • 78-70=148 (+6)
----------------------------------
t21. Charlie Box • 74-78=152 (+10)
t44. Tim Chan • sub-77=77 (+6)
t44. Leo Mihaich • 77-sub=77 (+6)
Top 200 individual rankings (April 30 Scoreboard/Clippd) listed
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
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