LAKELAND, Fla. – On a windy day, the Valdosta State men's golf team fired a final round 318 to finish 11^th at the 2024 Matlock Collegiate hosted by Florida Southern.  For the 54-hole tournament, the Blazers carded rounds of 298, 292 and 318 for a 908 score on the par 72, 7,151-yard Lone Palm Golf Club course.  Florida Southern won the 15-team tournament with an 870 score.
 
Nova Southeastern finished second at 875, followed by Lynn (877), Barton College (884) and Saint Leo rounded out the top five with an 887 score.  Tampa came in sixth (889), followed by a tie for seventh between Palm Beach Atlantic and Barry each at 895.  West Florida and Montevallo tied for ninth at 901.  The Blazers were 11^th, edging Embry-Riddle by three strokes, followed by Rollins (912).  Eckerd was 14^th at 941 and Georgia College finished 15^th at 961. 
 
Individually, Nova Southeastern's Michael Hay won medalist honors with a 3-under 213 on rounds of 70, 72 and 71, while Lynn's duo of Joseph Hudak and Jose Ramirez each finished 1-under at 215.  There was a three-way tie for fourth at even par. 
 
For the Blazers, freshman Adam Waller finished tied for 15^th to pace the team with a 221 score on rounds of 72, 70 and 79 in his first tournament.  Junior Chase Long finished tied for 25^th with a 225 score and a final round 79 (71-75-79), while junior Brandon Cho tied for 49^th with a 230 score (76-72-82).  Freshman Alexander Nilehn tied for 63^rd at 237 (83-75-79) and sophomore Joshua Burki was 66^th at 238 (79-78-81). 
 
The Blazers return to action Feb. 19-20 at the Saint Leo Invitational at Lake Jovita Golf Club in Dade City, Fla.