VALDOSTA, Ga. – Valdosta State juniors Alexander Nilehn and William Carestam finished the first round of the 2026 NCAA Division II Men's Golf South/Southeast Regional Thursday at Valdosta Country Club.  Nilehn carded an opening round 76, while Carestam finished with an 82 to open the tournament on the par 72, 7,012-yard course.

Nilehn finished with five birdies and six pars as he sits tied for 77^th, while Carestam is tied for 105^th with two birdies and five pars.  

The field had a 3:41-hour weather delay and was unable to complete the first round due to the delay and darkness.  The field will complete the first round beginning at 7:30 a.m. Friday morning and then a 45-minute break before a shotgun start for the second round.  

Individually Georgia Southwestern's Sam Brown and West Florida's Cooper Tendick for tying the Valdosta Country Club tournament course record of 67 on Friday as they are tied for first.  It marked the fifth and sixth time of someone shooting a 67 in a tournament at VCC, including Sepp Straka.  

There is a five-way tie for third at 4-under 68, while 23 players sit under par and an additional 14 are even par.  For the team standings, Florida Southern sits at 10-under currently and has not finished the first round.  Georgia Southwestern, who did finish, is second at 9-under 279.   West Florida finished with a 7-under 281 for third, while Nova Southeastern hasn't finished and sits at 6-under.  Lincoln Memorial, who did finish, is 3-under 285, while Lee has completed ten holes and is 3-under.  

Click here for live results of the regional and check back with vstateblazers.com tomorrow afternoon for a complete recap of the second round.