COLUMBUS, Ga. – The Valdosta State men's golf team opened the 2019 Cougar Invitational with rounds of 282 and a 285 for a 2-under 567 score, as it sits tied for third with No. 12 Saint Leo heading into tomorrow's final round at the Country Club of Columbus. 
 
No. 4-ranked Florida Southern leads the 17-team filed with a 6-under 562, while defending national champion and No. 1-ranked Lynn sits second at 2-under 566.  Georgia Southwestern and host No. 21 Columbus State are tied for fifth at 568. 
 
Barry, ranked second in the preseason Bushnell/Golfweek Top 25, is seventh at 569, while Lee is eighth at 570, followed by Delta State at 571 and No. 16 Limestone rounds out the top ten at 572.  Queens (N.C.) is 11^th with a 577 score, followed by Lincoln Memorial at 578, No. 18 Carson-Newman (580), No. 8 Florida Tech (581) and Wingate is 15^th at 586.  Montevallo is 16^th at 592 and Clayton State is 17^th at 595. 
 
Individually, Delta State's Zach Zediker leads the field with a 7-under 135 after rounds of 73 and a blistering 62 for a 135 score.  There is a six-way tie for second at 4-under heading into tomorrow's final round at 138. 
 
For the Blazers, senior Jordan Long carded a 3-under 139 and is tied for eighth on rounds of 69 and 70.  Sophomore Chase Weathers is tied for 18^th with an even par 142 on rounds of 72 and 70, while sophomore Gage Smith sits tied for 31^st with a 144 score on rounds of 74 and 70.  Sophomore Davis Smith is tied for 38^th with a 145 after carding rounds of 70 and 75.  Junior AJ Ouimet is tied for 70^th with a 150 score on rounds of 71 and 79. 
 
Tomorrow's final round will begin at 9 a.m. as the Blazers will be playing with Georgia Southwestern and Columbus State.  VSU will begin on holes 3-6 for the shotgun start.  Check back with vstateblazers.com on the men's golf schedule page for links to live stats and then following the tournament for a complete recap of the event.