VALDOSTA. Ga. – The No. 40 Valdosta State men's golf team opened the 2020 Southeastern Collegiate at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club in Valdosta with a 305 on the par 72, 7,365-yard course and is tied for 16^th with No. 47 Nova Southeastern heading into Monday's second round.
 
In an 18-team field featuring some of the top teams in NCAA Division II men's golf, No. 1-ranked Georgia Southwestern and No. 14 West Florida are tied for first each with a 5-under 283.  No. 16 Saint Leo is third (289), followed by No. 6 Columbus State (290) and No. 5 Lincoln Memorial rounds out the top five with a 292 score. 
 
Georgia Southwestern's Vincent Norman leads the 93-player field with a 5-under 67, as he is the No. 1 golfer in Division II.  West Florida's Harry Butler and Saint Leo's Kevin Johnson are tied for second each with a 4-under 68.  There is a three-way tie for fourth at 2-under 70.    
 
VSU had all five scores in the 70s, but none were lower than 75 as junior Wesley Hanson fired a 75 putting him tied for 41^st, while junior AJ Ouimet carded a 76 (T-55), as did sophomore Chase Weathers.  Freshman Ryan Pollman carded a 78 and is tied for 74^th, while sophomore Gage Smith is tied for 84^th with a 79.   Playing as an individual, sophomore Davis Smith also carded a 75 and is tied for 41^st.
 
A total of 11 golfers shot under par, while eight more shot even for the round.   Lander had the most pars in the round (60) and West Florida fired the most birdies (20).  Georgia Southwestern had one eagle from Chase McLain. 
 
The Blazers begin on the back nine tomorrow at 10 a.m., playing with Nova Southeastern and Flagler.  The second round starts at 8:30 a.m. with the three individuals, followed by Georgia Southwestern, Lander and Rollins off the first tee at 8:30 a.m.