Howey-In-The-Hills, Fla. - The Youngstown State men's golf team finished third at the 2024 Horizon League Golf Championships which concluded on Monday at the Mission Inn Resort's El Campeon Golf Course.
It marks the second time in the last three years YSU has finished in the top three. In the last four events hosted in Florida, the Guins have been in top three on three occasions.
YSU finished with a three-round total of 880 while Wright State carded an impressive total of 856 for the team victory. The Guins made a charge to finish second, but Purdue Fort Wayne had a three-round total of 874 to grab the runner-up finish. Oakland came in fourth at 889 while Northern Kentucky was fifth (893).
On the final day, the entire Penguins lineup had impressive rounds. All five players shot 75-or-lower and the Guins had only one double bogey in 90 holes played as a team. On Monday, YSU had their tournament-best round of 291. It was the second lowest team score of the day as well.
YSU carded rounds of 295 and 294 earlier in the tournament.
On the individual leaderboard, Youngstown State placed four golfers in the top 14, including three inside the top 10.
Senior Cole Christman had the second top-five Horizon League finish of his career tying for fifth place with a 218. Christman finished fourth at the 2022 event. After an opening round 77 on Saturday, he carded scores of 70 and 71. He was tied for 32nd after round one before moving up 27 spots to finish fifth.
Senior Justin Atkinson had a three-round total of 219 to tie for seventh while Ryan Sam carded a total of 221 and tie for 10th place. Like Christman, Sam was tied for 32nd following the opening round before moving up the leaderboard.
Jake Sylak, one of three golfers with multiple eagles in the tournament, posted a 14th-place finish with a three-round total of 223. Rounding out the YSU lineup was Dean Austalosh who had a 230.
Christman had four birdies and 11 pars on his one-under par round of 71. He opened with a birdie on No. 1 and closed out the front side with a birdie on No. 9. He was two-under after the turn with birdies at No. 10 and 13 to go with seven pars.
Atkinson, who shot a 73, came out strong with birdies on two of his first three holes. At the turn he was one-over par, but on the back nine made a birdie, a bogey and had seven pars for an even-par 37.
Sam, who came in 29th a year ago, finished with an even-par 72 and moved up eight spots on the final day. On the front nine he had six pars and a birdie on No. 9. After making the turn, he birded No. 10 and added an eagle three on the par 5 14th hole.
Sylak shot a 75 which was highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 14th and birdie on No. 9. He was even par after the first 14 holes. Austalosh had birdies on No. 1 and No. 16 during his round. He was one-under par on his last eight holes.
- Men's Golf All-Tournament Team
- Andrew Flynn, Wright State (Championship Medalist)
- Timmy Hollenbeck, Wright State
- Kasey Lilly, Purdue Fort Wayne
- Mikkel Mathiesen, Wright State
- Cole Christman, Youngstown State
- Zak Kulka, Green Bay
