Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest University
Valspar Collegiate
Deacs Set to Compete in Elite Field at Valspar Collegiate
3/22/2026 7:27:00 PM | Men's Golf
Thirteen top-35 teams highlight one of the nation’s premier annual collegiate tournaments.
PALM CITY, Fla. – In search of their fourth victory of the 2025-26 season, the Wake Forest men's golf team travels to Florida for the Valspar Collegiate Invitational starting Monday.
Of the 16-team field, thirteen of the nation's top-35 teams according to the Scoreboard rankings will be participating in the Valspar Collegiate Invitational.
Ranked No. 29 in the latest Scoreboard Rankings, the Deacs can continue to climb with a strong performance against a competitive field.
The 54-hole tournament, hosted by Houston, will begin with 36 holes on Monday, March 23 and conclude with 18 March 24.
The Deacs' Lineup
In his outing at The Prestige, Senior Jakob Melin posted a top-20 finish. Melin picked up his second top-5 finish of his senior season, ending in fifth place at nine-under at The Bryson Invitational. Melin finished the Hamptons Intercollegiate inside of the top 20 after having a pair of top-10 finishes to start the season.
Junior Tom Haberer claimed his first collegiate title by two strokes with a score of 203 (-13), tying for the eighth-lowest 54-hole score to par in program history. Haberer's win was highlighted by three under-par rounds, including a low five-under 67 in round two, tallying 17 birdies and carding just four bogeys over three rounds. Haberer had a second-place finish at the Hamptons Intercollegiate, marking his second runner-up finish this season.
At the Bryan National Collegiate, Prieto claimed his first collegiate title as a Demon Deacon with a score of 203 (-13), tying for the eighth-lowest 54-hole score to par in program history. Prieto secured a top-10 finish at the Hamptons Intercollegiate, tying for sixth on the individual leaderboard. At the Palmas del Mar Collegiate, Prieto claimed a runner-up finish, marking his fourth top-five finish of his junior season. Prieto shot his best in round three, carding a career-low 66 (-6).
Sophomore Jorge Hao captured his first collegiate title, tying the fourth-lowest 54-hole score to par (since spring 1976) with a final score of 199 (-17). Hao's first victory was highlighted by three under-par rounds, including two consecutive rounds of 65 (-7). Leading by five strokes, Hao tallied an impressive 19 birdies and four bogeys over three rounds. Hao shot his best in the final round of the Palmas del Mar Collegiate, with a final-round 69 (-3) to tie for 23rd.
In his outing at The Bryson Invitational, Haas posted a final round score of 70 (-2) to find himself tied for 12th place. Junior Kyle Haas claimed his second-straight top-10 finish at the Hamptons Intercollegiate and has ended the first four tournaments of the fall tied for 12th or better.
The Field
No. 1 Auburn
No. 6 Texas
No. 7 Arkansas
No. 8 Arizona State
No. 10 Texas Tech
No. 13 Pepperdine
No. 14 Oklahoma
No. 17 North Carolina
No. 23 Duke
No. 24 USC
No. 29 Wake Forest
No. 30 Florida State
No. 32 Texas A&M
Houston
Augusta
Rice
Tournament Format
The 54-hole event will begin with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. for 36 holes on Monday. Tee times for the final round on Tuesday will begin as early as 8:30 a.m. The Deacs will be paired with players from Duke, Rice and Augusta.
Live Stats
Scoring for the Valspar Collegiate Invitational will be available via Scoreboard powered by Clippd
About the Course
Floridian National Golf Club - Par 71 - 7,088 yds.
Floridian was created to celebrate the game of golf. The 18-hole course at Floridian is quickly becoming known as one of the most beautiful, well-designed, challenging yet playable courses in the nation. Tom Fazio harkens back to golf's origins, producing a course that is both walkable and enjoyable. Dramatic views of the St. Lucie River present themselves between shots. The natural preserve areas hold some of Florida's most unique native wildlife. No matter what playing level, Floridian National Golf Club aims to provide an unparalleled golf experience just as Fazio intended.
Players Mentioned
