Senior Justin Atkinson finished tied for 10th individually to lead the Youngstown State men's golf team at the Joe Feaganes Marshall Invitational, which concluded on Tuesday at Guyan Golf & Country Club in Huntington, W. Va.
The Penguins finished 12th as a team with a three-round team total of 872. On Monday, YSU opened the tournament at one under par with team score of 283 before posting a 295 in the second session. Youngstown State closed the event with a 294 in the third and final round on Tuesday.
In his second tournament as a Penguin, Atkinson finished tied for 10th with a three-round score of 209 (70-68-71) to finish at four under par and earn his first top-10 finish of the season. The performance is tied for the sixth-lowest 54-hole score in program history. The senior transfer's three-under-par 68 in the second session was bogey-free as he recorded 15 pars and three birdies.
Jacob Sylak finished tied for 34th with a career-best three-round total of 216 (70-73-73). The junior's one-under-par 70 in the opening session marked the lowest round of his career. Sylak's first-round 70 included 10 pars and five birdies.
Playing as an individual, Michael Porter recorded a three-round score of 220 (68-76-76) to tie for 49th in his debut collegiate tournament. The redshirt freshman's three-under-par 68 in the first round represents the lowest round by a YSU freshman since Brandon Pluchinsky carded a 66 at the Horizon League Championships on April 28, 2013. Porter's first-round 68 featured 13 pars, four birdies and only one bogey.
Ryan Sam finished tied for 53rd with a three-round 221 (70-79-72). The sophomore matched the lowest round of his career with a one-under-par 70 in the opening session. Sam's first-round 70 included 11 pars and five birdies while his final-round 72 featured 11 pars and three birdies.
Dean Austalosh concluded the event with a three-round total of 229 (73-77-79). The redshirt senior's two-over-par 73 in the first round included 14 pars and a birdie on the par-four No. 18. In his debut tournament as a Penguin, fifth-year senior transfer Jimmy Graham finished with a three-round score of 231 (76-77-78).
Belmont took home the tournament title at 28 under par with a three-round team total of 824. Marshall finished as the runner-up at its home tournament with an 832 while Morehead State placed third with an 834. Purdue Fort Wayne came in fourth with an 846 while Bellarmine rounded out the top five with an 848.
Belmont's Jack Schoenberger earned medalist honors by one stroke at 13 under par with a three-round 200 (68-64-68) while his teammate Michael Senn III placed second with a 201 (65-69-67).
Youngstown State will continue its fall schedule on Sept. 25-26 with The Virtues Invitational hosted by Miami (Ohio) at The Virtues Golf Club in Nashport, Ohio.
For news and updates throughout the fall season, follow @YSUMensGolf on X and Instagram.
