NORMAN, Okla. – Illinois State recent graduate TJ Barger has been named to the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) All-Region First Team, the first Redbird to earn the honor since David Perkins for the 2019-20 season, and just the third since 2016-17.
Barger, who was named First Team All-MVC in 2025-26, averaged 71.2 strokes per round on the season – the second-lowest single-season stroke average in program history, while his career stroke average of 72.3 is the lowest in Redbird men's golf history. He had 54 rounds in his ISU career where he was at or under par – the fourth-lowest in school history.
This season he had 25 rounds at or under par, which topped the previous school record of 23 by Trent Wallace in 2018-19, and he had seven top-10 finishes behind only Matt Miller (nine in 2006-07), Stuart Anderson (nine in 1999-00), Gary Ostrega (nine in 1972-73), and D.A. Weibring (eight in 1972-73).
The Redbirds won their third MVC Title in the past four seasons this year, as the team tied a program record by tying for 10th place at the NCAA Columbus Regional, and winning multiple tournament titles for the third time since 2007-08.
