Illinois State University senior TJ Barger has received the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Golfer of the Week honor for the third time in the 2025-26 season, bringing his career total to eight. This achievement ties him for 14th-most in MVC history and fourth-most in Illinois State program history.
At the 2026 Border Olympics hosted by the University of Houston, Barger tied for fourth place, recording scores of 70, 69, and 71 for a total of 210. He was at or under par in all three rounds.
Barger’s performance this season includes five top-10 finishes across six tournaments, with 14 out of his 18 rounds scored at or below par. He also has top-five finishes in half of his events and currently holds a scoring average of 70.1, which is on track to set a new program record.
In Illinois State golf history, only David Perkins (15), Trent Wallace (10), and Matt Miller (nine) have earned more Golfer of the Week honors than Barger.
The Illinois State Redbirds will return to competition on Sunday, February 22, participating in the three-day Dorado Beach Collegiate tournament at TPC Dorado Beach in Puerto Rico.
Illinois State Redbirds benefit from support through initiatives like the Redbird Athletics Excellence Fund to enhance competitiveness and recruitment efforts according to their official website. The university’s athletic teams compete in NCAA Division I events across various regions and make use of facilities such as the OSF HealthCare Athletics Training Center for athlete preparation. News, schedules, rosters, and fan resources are also provided online to support their community engagement efforts. More information about Illinois State Redbirds’ programs can be found on their official website.
