ATHENS, AL – The Northern Illinois University men's golf team survived a charge from the Ball State Cardinals Tuesday to claim its first Mid-American Conference Championship title in almost 40 years, winning by four strokes at Canebrake Golf Club to earn an automatic berth into the NCAA Regionals.

The Huskies finished the three round Championship at Canebrake Club with a score of 869 (+5). Ball State finished in second place (873, +9), while Toledo finished in third (875, +11). 

Toledo's Barend Botha claimed individual championship honors with a three-day total of 211 (-5).

NIU's John Carlson was named the Kermit Blosser Coach of the Year after the tournament in guiding NIU to it's first MAC title since 1985. In the Huskies three tournaments with Carlson at the helm, NIU has finished second, tied for third and now first. NIU will make it's second appearance in the NCAA Tournament by earning the MAC's automatic bid. The Huskies' only other NCAA appearance came in 1976.

After the tournament, the 2023 MAC men's golf postseson awards were handed out. Toledo's Botha was named Golfer of the Year, while Kent State's Ben MacLean claimed Freshman of the Year honors. Miami's Jack Ebner was voted to win the Earl Yestingsmeier Sportrsman of the Year by his peers, which rounded out the postseason honors. 

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