PALM HARBOR, Fla. – The Valdosta State men's golf team plays Monday and Tuesday in the Copperhead Championship, hosted by Saint Leo at Innisbrook Resort's Copperhead Course. The 54-hole event is played on a par 70 layout with 36 holes on day one and 18 on day two.

The 17-team field includes 11 teams ranked in the Sept. 25 Bushnell/Golfweek Division II Coaches Poll, led by the top five: No. 1 Florida Southern, No. 2 North Georgia, No. 3 Grand Valley State, No. 4 Lincoln Memorial and No. 5 Lee. Nova Southeastern (No. 8), Wingate (No. 11), host Saint Leo (No. 14), Barry (No. 15), Lynn (No. 22) and CSU Pueblo (No. 25) are also ranked. The Blazers are among the teams receiving votes.

Valdosta State's lineup features seniors Alexander Nilehn, William Carestam, Adam Waller and freshman David Wagner Jonah Nacional. Senior Nick Mueller will compete as an individual

Nacional returns to the lineup after winning the Dunning Invitational in his collegiate debut. He shot 13 under par on rounds of 69, 67 and 67, making 18 birdies and leading the field for nearly the entire tournament. The Blazers also claimed the team title in the season opener, finishing 16 under at 848 after a closing 282, their best round of the event. Nilehn tied for fourth, Waller tied for ninth and Carestam tied for 14th.

The Blazers then finished 13th at the Hurricane Invitational on Oct. 5-6 in Albany, Ga., with a 36-hole score of 594 (299-295). Nilehn was the team's top finisher, tying for 22nd at 1-over 145. Wagner shot a 1-under 71 in the final round, the team's best round of the event, and climbed 18 spots to a tie for 33rd.

Nilehn and Carestam also return from last year's Copperhead Championship, where the Blazers finished 15th in a 17-team field with a 54-hole score of 908. Nilehn shot a 222 (76-73-73) and Carestam a 231 (79-78-74).

Live scoring is available on Scoreboard by Clippd.

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