Barend Botha holds 36-hole lead at Commissionaires Ottawa Open

OTTAWA, Ontario – Barend Botha holds the 36-hole lead of the Commissionaires Ottawa Open at 16-under after carding a 7-under 65 in the second round at Eagle Creek Golf Club.

Botha made seven birdies and an eagle in the second round to take sole possession of the lead. Botha’s only bogeys of the day came on No. 11 and No. 1, where he responded by making birdie and eagle on the ensuing holes.

Botha secured exempt status for the North America Swing after earning medalist honors at PGA TOUR Americas Q-School at Soboba Spring Golf Course in San Jacinto, California. A native of George, South Africa, Botha earned status after finishing his senior year at the University of Toledo, where he was named the Mid-America Conference (MAC) Golfer of the Year after winning his second consecutive individual conference title.

It didn’t take long for the South African to start racking up accolades once he started his collegiate career. Botha was named the 2020-21 MAC Freshman of the Year after leading the Rockets in stroke average (73.5) and rounds at par or better (7). Botha was named to the All-MAC First-Team four consecutive times, and led Toledo in scoring average each year, setting the program record for best stroke average in 2022-23 (70.5).

Botha made his PGA TOUR Americas debut at the Bromont Open presented by Desjardins, where he finished T60. Botha will begin his third round in the final group on Saturday at 1:50 p.m. off the first tee.

The third round of the Commissionaires Ottawa Open will begin at 8:40 a.m. on Saturday, with tee times running until 1:50 p.m. off the first tee.

About Barend Botha (1st/-16)

 

Age: 22

Birthplace: George, South Africa

Residence: Toledo, Ohio

College: University of Toledo

Fortinet Cup (start of week): T219

• Earned medalist honors at the PGA TOUR Americas Q-School in San Jacinto, California to earn membership for the North America Swing
• First-Team All-MAC selection for four consecutive years
• MAC Golfer of the Year in 2022-23 and 2023-24
• Set the Toledo single season stroke average record (70.5) in 2022-23
• Won MAC Freshman of the Year honors in 2020-21 after posting a team-low scoring average
• Claimed the individual MAC Championship in back-to-back years (2022-23, 2023-24)
• Became the second player in Toledo program history to compete as an individual at NCAA Regionals multiple times

Competition Notes

 

Course Setup: Par 72 / 7,032 yards; R2 average: 69.290

Weather: Sunny with a high of 82. Wind from the northwest at 2-9 mph with gusts up to 18 mph.  

• Barend Botha holds the 36-hole lead at 16-under. Botha earned exempt status for the North America swing after earning medalist honors at PGA TOUR Americas Q-School.
• Four countries are represented in the top five and ties: United States (2), South Africa (1), Canada (1) and Chinese-Taipei (1).
• Colombia’s Ricardo Celia (T12/-10) is the low Latin after 36-holes.
• Joey Savoie is the low Canadian through two rounds (T3/-14).
• Hole No. 5 – the 408-yard par 4 – was the most challenging hole at Eagle Creek Golf Club; averaging a +.170 in the second round.