Westlake, Ohio – For the second time this fall, senior Justin Atkinson carded a top-10 finish by placing eighth to pace the Youngstown State men's golf team at the two-day Tom Tontimonia Invitational hosted by Cleveland State which concluded on Tuesday at Lakewood Country Club.
As a team, YSU placed 12th with a three-round total of 857 (286-291-280). Winning the event was Butler with an impressive 823 (29-under par) while Bowling Green and IUPUI finished in a tie for second (835). YSU's three-round 857 ranks as the sixth-lowest 54-hole performance in program history. In addition, the team's final-round team score of 280 is tied for the sixth-lowest 18-hole performance in school history.
Atkinson finished with a three-round total of 208 following a final round of 69 on Tuesday and rounds of 69 and 70 on Monday. The 208 total ties for the third-lowest 54-hole score in school history behind Ross Beal (196) and Kevin Scherr (204).
Atkinson was five shots back of the tournament medalist, Damon Dickey of Butler. It was Atkinson's second top-10 finish of the fall after placing 10th at the Joe Feaganes Marshall Invitational on Sept. 12.
On Tuesday in Westlake, Atkinson's round featured six birdies, eight pars and five bogeys. He had birdies on No. 1, No. 3, No. 6, No. 13, No. 15 and No. 16. For the tournament he had 14 birdies over his three rounds of play.
Cole Christman tied his career-low round on Tuesday firing a four-under par 67. Christman had six birdies and 10 pars to offset just two bogeys. He tied his career-low score which he had at the Bucknell Invitational on Oct. 10, 2021. For the tournament, Christman finished 24th, which saw him jump 18 spots in the standings between his second and third rounds, with a three-round total of 212 (70-75-67).
Ryan Sam finished 51st with a three-round total of 217 (73-73-71), Dean Austalosh placed 67th with a 222 (74-75-73) and Jake Ryan was 76th with a 226 (76-73-77). Ryan's two-over-par 73 in the second session marked the lowest round of his young career.
The Penguins conclude their fall tournament action at the three-day Bucknell Invitational which starts on Oct. 8 at the Bucknell Golf Club in Lewisburg, Pa.
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