After leading the Valparaiso University men’s golf team in his first career tournament, the noteworthy start for freshman Caleb VanArragon (Blaine, Minn. / Blaine) continued on Wednesday as he received Missouri Valley Conference Golfer of the Week accolades.

VanArragon led the team in a Labor Day weekend event with a 54-hole score of 222 (+6) at the Turning Stone Tiger Intercollegiate, hosted by Mizzou in Verona, N.Y. He tied for 16th in the 88-player field, helping Valpo finish in the Top 5 of 14.

VanArragon had a team-best nine birdies during the tournament. Round 1 was his best of the weekend, as he went two strokes under with a 70 in the first round of his collegiate career.

This marks the third straight year a Valpo rookie has earned MVC Golfer of the Week honors as Charlie Toman (Chardon, Ohio / Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin) did so twice during his freshman season in 2018-19 and Brett Seward (Aurora, Ill. / Aurora Christian) did so during the 2017-18 campaign. Valpo has won four MVC Golfer of the Week awards since joining the conference and all four have been garnered by freshmen.

The team will face a quick turnaround after the season-opening tournament as it is set to compete in the Air Force Falcon Invitational at Eisenhower Golf Course in Colorado Springs, Colo. beginning on Friday. The 18-team, 54-hole event will continue on Saturday. A link to live scoring via GolfStat will be available on ValpoAthletics.com.