VALDOSTA, Ga. – The No. 43 Valdosta State men's golf team plays host to the 31^st Annual First Federal Southeastern Collegiate, Monday and Tuesday at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club in Valdosta.  The 18-team field will begin with a 9 a.m. start Monday morning, followed by the second round Monday afternoon.  Tuesday's final round is scheduled for 9 a.m. 
 
Fans can access links to live stats and streaming of the tournament at vstateblazers.com on the men's golf schedule page.  Check back each day for a complete recap of the championship.  
 
The Southeastern Collegiate is one of the strongest NCAA Division II Men's Golf Tournaments in the country year-in-year-out, and this year is no different.  This year's field features four teams ranked in the top ten nationally, including No. 1 Barry, No. 4 Lincoln Memorial, No. 6 Lee and No. 9 Nova Southeastern.  Six more teams are ranked between Nos. 10-20, while two more are between Nos. 21-25, for 12 of 18 teams ranked in the Golfstat Top 25.  Moreover, 16 of the 18 teams are ranked in the top 65.  Individually, four of the top ten golfers in the country are expected to be competing tomorrow.
 
"Each year we are fortunate to host a great event," VSU head men's golf coach Jared Purvis said.  "We have the best regular season field on one of the best courses.  We look to carry out good play from Lake Jovita to Kinderlou."
 
The Blazers last competed in the Saint Leo Invitational, Feb. 21-22, where they finished fifth with an 858 score on rounds of 284-287-287, for the best play of the season.  Junior Chase Weathers finished tenth in the field with a 212 score on rounds of 69, 73 and 70.  Graduate student Wesley Hanson and sophomore Ryan Pollman each carded a 215 to finish tied for 16^th. 
 
Hanson has the top spot in the lineup this week, followed by Weathers and Pullman is third.  Senior Gage Smith is fourth this week, followed by redshirt freshman Peyton Balent.  Leading the way for the Blazers this season is Pollman with a 74.8 stroke average in six tournaments.  Both Hanson and Weathers each have a 75.1 average also in six tournaments.  Smith has played in five tournaments this year with a 74.9 stroke average.  This is the first tournament Balent has qualified as he has played in one tournament this year as an individual. Balent finished tied for 56^th at the South/Southeast Regional Preview, also at Kinderlou, in the fall with a 233 score on rounds of 77, 80 and 76. 
 
Following the Southeastern Collegiate, VSU heads the next week, Mar. 21-22, for the Bobcat Invitational in Eatonton, Ga., at Cuscowilla Golf Club hosted by Georgia College.  VSU then returns home to prepare for the Argonaut Invitational, Apr. 4-5, at Pensacola Country Club, in Pensacola, Fla., before the GSC Championships in Mobile, Ala., at Robert Trent Jones – Magnolia Grove.  VSU then will host the NCAA South/Southeast Regional May 5-7 at Kinderlou.