NORMAL, Ill. – After a stellar breakout season, junior transfer David Rauer has been named the 2018 Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Year. The junior transferred to Illinois State after golfing for two years at Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona.
The Tucson, Arizona native was tabbed Newcomer of the Year after his impressive outing at the MVC Championship earlier this week. The junior lead the Redbirds in scoring throughout the tournament, finishing in sixth place on the individual leaderboard. He finished with a total score of 7-over-par 223 (77-72-74), including eight birdies over the three rounds.
"It is a privilege winning the award and becoming the second at ISU to win the award behind Trent Wallace," said Rauer.
Rauer made his Redbird debut at the Badger Invitational, shooting his lowest score in the final round with a 2-over-par 74 (37-37) to finish with a 9-over-par 225 (75-76-74). He then finished the Ram Masters Invitational by firing a 1-under-par 69 (34-35), which included three birdies and was a repeat from his second-round score. He finished the tournament with a 7-over-par 217 (79-69-69).
Rauer earned an eighth-place tie on the individual leaderboard and was named MVC Golfer of the Week at the Northern Intercollegiate with a 4-under-par 212 (67-72-73) . Rauer started the tournament by shooting his season-low 5-under-par 67 (33-34), as he tallied a notable 11 birdies through the tournament.
After being named MVC Golfer of the Week, he finished the Firestone Invitational with a 9-over-par 225 (75-74-76). Rauer then followed by finishing in a tie for ninth-place with teammate Trent Wallace at the Flyer Invitational, completing the tournament with a 6-over-par 219.
Later that month, Rauer concluded the Little Rock Invitational with a 19-over-par 235 (80-75-80). He followed by finishing in the top 20 on the individual leaderboard at the Mobile Sports Authority Intercollegiate with teammate Zach Burry, as they both finished with a three-round total of 2-over-par 218.
The junior saved his best round for last at the Seminole Intercollegiate by firing a 3-under-par 69 in the final round, good enough for a 18th-place tie on the individual leaderboard. He finished with an even-par 216 throughout the three-round tournament, including fifteen birdies this throughout the weekend, six of which were carded in the final round.
Rauer finished his regular season in second place on the individual leaderboard at the Bob Sitton Invitational, firing a 3-under-par 68 (34-34) in the final round. He finished with a three-round score of 3-under-par 210 (69-73-68), including nine birdies throughout the week.
After a stellar junior campaign, Rauer is already looking forward to next season.
"Next year will be a breakout year for ISU golf," said Rauer. "We have a lot of guys returning and we have two solid players coming in next year who I think could have a big impact on our success next year!"
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