PETERSBURG, Va. – The Valdosta State men's golf team opened the 2025-26 season tied for sixth at the 2025 Griffin Invitational hosted by Saint Leo at the par 72, Country Club of Petersburg.  The Blazers carded rounds of 293 and 294 for a 587, 36-hole score heading into tomorrow's third round.  Blazer junior Alexander Nilehn carded a 4-under 140 (70-70) as he is tied for fourth heading into the final round. 
 
Palm Beach Atlantic leads the 14-team field with an 11-under 565 score, while Catawba is second at 6-under 570.  Belmont Abbey is third at 577, while the host Saint Leo Lions are fifth at 584.  Coker and VSU are tied for sixth (587), followed by Fayetteville State and King who are tied for eighth (595), while Trevecca Nazarene and Wilmington (Del.) are tied for tenth at 598.  Mount Olive and Chowan are tied for 12^th (601) and the Belmont Abbey "B" team is 14^th at 618.
 
Check back with vstateblazers.com Tuesday afternoon for a complete recap of the final round.  Click here for live results of Tuesday's final round.
 
Eckerd's Reggie Fear is the clubhouse leader at 6-under 138 on rounds of 71 and 67), while Palm Beach Atlantic's Nicolas Estrada is second at 5-under 139 tied with Catawba's Illia Antoniadis, while Nilehn, Saint Leo's Paul Esnault and Benjamin Morland are tied for fourth at 4-under.
 
Nilehn, carded nine birdies in the two rounds with just four bogeys and one double bogey and birdied four of the first five holes on the back nine of the second round to lead the team.  Blazer junior newcomer William Carestam sits tied for 24^th with a 147 score on rounds of 74 and 73, while senior Joshua Burki is tied for 31^st with a 148 score on rounds of 75 and 73. 
 
Blazer junior Landon Bassford is tied for 55^th with a 152 score on rounds of 74 and 78 and junior newcomer Nick Mueller is 83^rd with a 160 score on rounds of 79 and 81. Playing as an individual, freshman Valdosta native Jimmy Cohen is tied for 76^th in his first collegiate tournament with a 158 score on a pair of 79s. 
 
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