Decatur’s Rafer Heading to Del State

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur varsity golf standout Nikki Rafer will be taking her outstanding game to the next level this fall after last week signing a letter of intent to attend Delaware State University.

Rafer will be part of Delaware State’s first ever ladies’ golf team next fall and is expected to be an integral part of the school’s new team from the outset. During a ceremony at Decatur last Thursday afternoon, Rafer signed her official letter of intent to attend and play golf at Delaware State next fall.

“Nikki has been a member of the Decatur golf team for all four years of high school, during which she made a tremendous impact on the program and set numerous records long the way,” said Coach Jim Krall. “She quietly went about her business, and in a very modest fashion accumulated so many accolades.”

Among the accolades Rafer collected at Decatur were earning the team’s Sportsmanship Award, the Most Improved Player Award and the team Most Valuable Player Award twice. She earned All Bayside Conference awards as both a junior and a senior, finishing second in the Bayside last fall with a nine-hole average of 38.58, just fractions of a point behind the first-place finisher.

For the last three years, Rafer has been named the top female golfer on the Eastern Shore. She was the District 8 champion in 2011, shooting a 75 at the River Marsh course in Cambridge, topping all players in the field including men and ladies. Rafer also qualified for the state tournament in each of her four years at Decatur and is currently the River Run Golf Course Ladies Club Champion.

“Her strength is her amazing distance off the tee, often crushing her drives passed the boys by many yards,” said Krall. “Nikki’s hard work and dedication to golf has resulted in one extremely talented golfer who should make a huge impact on the Delaware State women’s Division I golf team. We wish her the best next fall.”