LAKELAND, Fla. – The Valdosta State men's golf team finished tied for seventh at the 2026 Matlock Classic with a final round 296 Tuesday and an 886 team score for the three rounds.  Blazer junior Alexander Nilehn paced the team finishing eighth with a 2-under 214 score. 
 
No. 4-ranked West Florida won the tournament with a 17-under 847, followed by No. 5 Florida Southern at 10-under 854.  No. 22 Nova Southeastern finished third with an 869 score, followed by No. 19 Saint Leo who moved up six spots with a final round 287 to finish fourth at 878.  Eckerd finished fifth at 879, followed by No. 20 Rollins at 884, while VSU and No. 37 Palm Beach Atlantic tied each with an 886 score.   No. 29 Lynn and No. 48 Embry-Riddle and No. 12 Barry finished tied for ninth at 894, while USC Beaufort was 12^th at 895.  No. 43 Tampa finished 13^th (899) and Montevallo was 14^th at 928. 
 
Individually, FSC's Donte Groppuso won the tournament with a 13-under 203, while Eckerd's Reggie Fear finished second at 9-under 207, followed by West Florida's Per Ecklund at 7-under 209.  UWF's TJ Thompson finished fourth at with a 6-under 210 score, followed by Saint Leo individual Nicklas Illi at 4-under 212.
 
For the Blazers, Nilehn finished at 2-under 214 on rounds of 70, 70 and 74.  Junior William Carestam finished tied for 21^st with a 219 score on three rounds of 73.  Senior Joshua Burki finished with a 224 score on rounds of 74, 74 and 76.  Junior Adam Waller finished with a 232 score on rounds of 80, 79 and 73, while senior Elad Sebbag carded rounds of 79, 77 and 78 for a 234 score and finished tied for 73^rd.  Playing as an individual, junior Nick Mueller finished 75^th with a 236 score on rounds of 79, 77 and 80. 
 
The Blazers return to action Feb. 16-17 at the Saint Leo Invitational, in Dade City, Fla., at Jake Jovita CC.