VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State men's golf team hosts the 2026 Southeastern Collegiate Monday and Tuesday at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club in Valdosta.  It is annually one of the premiere NCAA Division II Men's Golf tournaments in the country.  The tournament is scheduled for 36 holes Monday beginning at 9 a.m., and 18 on Tuesday for the 54-hole tournament.  
 
This year's field includes 16 teams, including four in the top ten nationally, along with an additional six in the top 25 and seven in the top 30.  All in all, 11 teams are ranked in the top 30 of the Clippd rankings this week. 
 
The field includes; No. 2 Lee, No. 3 West Florida, No. 4 Florida Southern, No. 7 Georgia Southwestern, No. 11 Columbus State, No. 13 Nova Southeastern, No. 15 Saint Leo, No. 20 Berry, No. 21 Lincoln Memorial, No. 24 Rollins and No. 28 Lynn.  No. 41 Palm Beach Atlantic, along with No. 51 Tampa, No. 75 Delta State and Nos. 79 Union and Valdosta State complete the field.  
 
Valdosta State hasn't competed since the Saint Leo Invitational at Lake Jovita Golf Club in Dade City, Fla., Feb. 16-17.  The Blazers finished with an 871 score (286-286-299).  Blazer junior Alexander Nilehn finished tied for 14^th with a 5-under 211 score (66, 70, 75) to lead the team. He has a 72.3 stroke average for the season in seven tournaments and 21 rounds.  
 
The Blazers will have nine players competing in the tournament this week and the Blazers will begin on hole number 1 at 9 a.m., playing with Saint Leo West Florida and Columbus State.  The Blazer lineup features Nilehn, junior William Carestam, senior Elad Sebbag, junior Adam Waller and junior Landon Bassford.   Playing as individuals will be; junior Nick Mueller, senior Joshua Burki, freshman Kaleb Shiver and junior William Ekeroth.  Ekeroth is playing in his first tournament of the season. 
 
Last season, the Blazers finished 12^th (878) at the Southeastern Collegiate as West Florida won with an 839 score at 25-under, edging Lincoln Memorial by two strokes.  VSU struggled on Monday last year, while it shot a 7-under 281 on Tuesday for the third-best round of that day.  For VSU, Nilehn finished tied for 29^thwith a 218 score (75-74-69).  Waller and Bassford also were part of the team scoring last season, while Burki played as an individual among current players. UWF's Cooper Tendick returns to defend his title as he finished with an 11-under 205 last year to earn medalist honors.  
 
Click here for live results of the tournament.  Check back with vstateblazers.com following each day of the tournament for a complete recap.  
 
Following the tournament, the Blazers turn their sights to the Shark Invitational, scheduled for Mar. 23-24 at Grande Oaks Country Club in Davie, Fla., hosted by Nova Southeastern.
 
First Federal Southeastern Collegiate Winners Since 1992
1992 Columbus State
1993 Columbus State
1994 Columbus State
1995 Valdosta State 
1996 Columbus State 
1997 Columbus State 
1998 Valdosta State
1999 Florida Southern 
2000 Georgia College
2001 Florida Southern 
2002 Rollins
2003 Armstrong Atlantic 
2004 West Florida 
2005 Armstrong Atlantic 
2006 West Florida 
2007 West Florida 
2008 Florida Southern 
2009 Nova Southeastern 
2010 Valdosta State
2011 Georgia College 
2012 North Alabama 
2013 Barry
2014 Barry
2015 Saint Leo
2016 Florida Southern 
2017 West Florida 
2018 Newberry
2019 Barry
2020 Georgia Southwestern
2021 Georgia Southwestern
2022 Lincoln Memorial
2023 Lee
2024 Nova Southeastern
2025 West Florida