Guins Tabbed Eighth in Horizon League Men’s Golf Preseason Poll
2/1/2024 1:05:00 PM | Men's Golf
The Youngstown State men's golf team was picked eighth in the 2024 Under Armour Horizon League Men's Golf Preseason Poll after a vote of the league's head coaches, the league office announced on Thursday. The Penguins received a total of 32 points in the poll.
Wright State received 99 points and nine of a possible 10 first-place votes to be picked as the league favorite. Purdue Fort Wayne, the defending league champion, received one first-place vote and 84 points to be tabbed second while Oakland came in at third with 80 points. IUPUI received 64 points to be slotted fourth while Northern Kentucky rounded out the top five with 61 points. Cleveland State was picked sixth with 58 points while Robert Morris was seventh with 37 points. Green Bay (22 points) and Detroit Mercy (13 points) were picked ninth and 10th, respectively, in the poll.
The Penguins return three players who were in the lineup when YSU finished eighth at the 2023 Horizon League Golf Championships. Sophomore Ryan Sam finished tied for 29th at the league meet as a true freshman last season with a three-round score of 229 (75-76-78). Redshirt senior Dean Austalosh placed 31st while fifth-year senior Cole Christman tied for 39th. Christman earned a career-best fourth-place finish as a junior at the 2022 Horizon League Championships with a three-round score of 212 (72-69-71). Christman's fourth-place finish was the highest by a Penguin at the league meet since 2011, and he became the first Penguin since 2015 to be named to the Horizon League All-Tournament Team.
Youngstown State will begin its spring season on Feb. 19-20 with the World Golf Village Collegiate hosted by Eastern Kentucky at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla. The 2024 Horizon League Golf Championships will be held on April 20-22 at Mission Inn Resort in Howey-In-The-Hills, Fla.
2024 Under Armour Men's #HLGOLF Preseason Poll
Pl. Team (First-place votes) – Pts.
1. Wright State (9) – 99
2. Purdue Fort Wayne (1) – 84
3. Oakland – 80
4. IUPUI – 64
5. Northern Kentucky – 61
6. Cleveland State – 58
7. Robert Morris – 37
8. Youngstown State – 32
9. Green Bay – 22
10. Detroit Mercy – 13
For news and updates throughout the spring season, follow @YSUMensGolf on X and Instagram.
