CAREER HONORS & AWARDS
Second Team All-Conference USA (2025)
CUSA Freshman of the Year (2024)
First Team All-Conference USA (2024)
CUSA All-Freshman Team (2024)
Louisiana Freshman of the Year (2024)
First Team All-Louisiana (2024)
NCAA Regional Participant (2024, 2025)
CUSA Commissioner's Academic Medalist (2024, 2025)
CUSA Commissioner’s Honor Roll (2024, 2025)
GCAA All-America Scholar (2025)

SOPHOMORE (2024-25)
• Participated in all 13 events, finishing as the top Bulldog in 12 of them.
• Ranked as high as No. 97 in the country.
• Recorded a team-best 71.62 stroke average over 39 rounds, third best in program history.
• Registered eight top-20 finishes, four of which were in the top 10.
• Totaled 23 rounds at or under par, setting a new single-season program record.
• Amassed 129 birdies and eight eagles, both team highs.
• Opened the season tying for 14th at the Agent Financial Classic (9/8-10), LA Tech's home event.
• Tied the 54-hole program record by shooting 14 under (69-66-67=202) at the GMAC Invitational (9/22-24), tying for second at the event. The 66 (-6) was a season-low round for Maki-Petaja.
• Also had three consecutive rounds at or under par at the Trinity Forest Invitational (10/6-8), tying for eighth after shooting nine under (67-68-72=207).
• Tied for eighth at the Maridoe Intercollegiate (3/31-4/1), shooting three over (73-69-77=219). Made first career hole in one in round two of the event.
• Tied for sixth at the CUSA Championship (4/21-23), shooting three under (68-73-72=213). 
• Tied for 43rd as an individual at the NCAA Tallahassee Regional (5/12-14), shooting six over (72-74-76=222).   

FRESHMAN (2023-24)
• Participated in a team-high 12 events in first season as a Bulldog.
• Finished the season ranked No. 215 in the country (highest ranking was No. 200).
• Registered a team-best 72.25 stroke average over 36 rounds, fourth best in program history.
• Recorded six top-20 finishes, four of which were in the top five. 
• Totaled 20 rounds at or under par, the third most in program history.
• Amassed 117 birdies, four eagles, and one albatross, all team highs.
• Had team highs for most birdies/eagles made in an event (14) and in a single round (nine).
• Was the top Bulldog finisher in eight events.
• Top individual for LA Tech in first collegiate event at Argent Financial Classic (9/10-12), tying for 23rd.
• Set the program record for lowest round by a freshman with a 64 (-8) in the first round of the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate (10/8).
• The 64 tied for the third lowest round in school history and lowest since 2014.
• Had three straight rounds at or under par at Sea Best Invitational (1/29-30), tying for fourth after shooting 209 (-1).
• Shot 72-68-70=210 (-6) to tie for fourth at Louisiana Classics (3/11-12).
• Registered first collegiate win at the Aggie Invitational (4/6-7), shooting 70-74-73=217 (+1). Made 35-foot putt on final hole to claim individual title, the first Bulldog to do so since 2012.
• Finished third at the CUSA Championship (4/22-24), shooting 69-72-71=212 (-4). Picked up a point for the Bulldogs in the semifinal match play against UTEP (4/25), winning 5&4.
• Tied for 27th as an individual at the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional (5/13-15), shooting 71-73-76=220 (+4). 

PRIOR TO LA TECH
•  Member of Boys U18 national team
•  Became youngest winner of a Finnish pro-am event since 2017 after winning Finnish Amateur PGA Golf Tournament
•  Put together a scoring average of 72.6 with 41 percent of competitive rounds played under par
•  Won European Team Championships in Division II in 2021
•  Won Junior Team National Championship by 14 strokes

PERSONAL: Full name is Niilo Matti Maki-Petaja ... Son of Jaakko and Hanna Maki-Petaja ... One sibling, Hertta ... Born Aug. 9, 2003 in Helsinki, Finland.