VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State men's golf team struggled in the final round of the NCAA Division II South/Southeast Region Preview Tuesday carding a final round 301 to finish fourth with an 875 score.  Newberry edged West Georgia in a two-hole playoff for title honors as both teams finished with an 863 score in a nip-and-tuck battle down to the final three holes.
 
The Blazers held the lead through Monday's two rounds, but were unable to hang on they shot 13-over on Tuesday, while West Georgia finished a round-best 5-under 283 to move up three spots and Newberry carded a 2-under moving up two spots with a final round 286.  Carson-Newman finished third (870) moving up two spots with a 3-under 285.  


VSU edged Montevallo by two strokes (877), while Clayton State, who was one shot back of the Blazers entering the final round, finished sixth with an 879 score as the Lakers carded a 16-over 304 on Tuesday.  There was a three-way tie for seventh between Truett-McConnell, Christian Brothers and Shorter at 892, while Georgia College rounded out the top ten with an 899 score.  Eckerd College finished 11^th at 900, while Christian Brother's second team finished 12^th at 914 and Miles College was 13^th at 933. 
 
UWG's Austin Fulton finished with an 8-under 208 on rounds of 69, 68 and 71 to earn medalist honors.  Newberry's Corey Chrzanowski was runner-up with a 4-under 212 after carding a 5-under 67 on Tuesday to move up 13 spots from Monday.  Clayton State's Daniel Medellin was third at 2-under 214.  UWG's Blake Kollin, along with Carson-Newman's Jonathan Nielesen and Georgia College's Isaac Samples each finished tied for fourth at even par 216.
 
The Blazers were led by sophomore Ryan Pollman, who finished tied for 11^th with a 218 score on rounds of 72, 70 and 76.  Junior Chase Weathers finished tied for 15^th with a 219 score (72,72,75), while senior Gage Smith and graduate student Wesley Hanson each tied for 28^th with a 22 score.  Smith carded rounds of 74, 73 and 75, while Hanson finished 72, 75, 75. Junior Davis Smith tied for 38^th with a 225 score on rounds of 79, 69 and 77.  
 
VSU also had eight players playing as individuals as redshirt freshman Trey Tesiero finished tied for 40^th with a 226 score (78,71,77), while sophomore Jackson Cross finished 46^th with a 227 score on rounds of 72, 76, 79.  Redshirt freshman Taylor Sweat tied for 52^nd with a 231 score on rounds of 77, 76 and 78.  Redshirt freshman Peyton Balent fired rounds of 77, 80 and 76 for a 233 score and tied for 56^th.  Redshirt freshman Brandon Cho was 61^st with rounds of 75, 78 and 82 for a 235 score, while senior Parker Rowe carded a 75, 79 and 83 to tie for 63^rd.  Freshman Chase Long tied for 71^st with three 81s for a 243 score and freshman Zach Ashley finished tied for 74^th with a 246 score on rounds of 86, 81 and 79. 
 
The Blazers led the tournament with 172 pars, while they also led in par 4 scoring at a 4.13 clip for +19. VSU was 4-under for par 5s for fifth in the tournament, but went +11 on par 3s tying for fourth.  The Blazers had 40 birdies for the tournament for fifth.