The Youngstown State men's golf team competed in 11 tournaments across seven different states from early September to late April during its 2023-24 season.

Highlights and key accomplishments from the team's 2023-24 season are detailed below.

Two Top-Five Finishes

• The Penguins earned a pair of top-five finishes during the 2023-24 season. YSU finished fifth out of 19 teams at the Bucknell Invitational on Oct. 10 at Bucknell Golf Club in Lewisburg, Pa.
•  The Guins put together team rounds of 292, 289 and 282 for a three-round total of 863. YSU's 863 is tied for the 10th-lowest 54-hole performance in program history.
• Youngstown State also earned a season-best third-place finish at the 2024 Horizon League Golf Championships on April 22 at Mission Inn Resort in Howey-In-The-Hills, Fla. The Penguins recorded a three-round team total of 880 to finish in the top three at the league meet for the second time in the last three years.
• YSU posted a two-round team total of 578 at the Don Benbow Bulter Spring Invitational, which is tied for the third-lowest 36-hole performance in school history.
• The Penguins recorded a three-round team total of 857 at the Tom Tontimonia Invitational, which ranks as the sixth-lowest 54-hole performance in program history. YSU's final-round 280 the Tom Tontimonia Invitational is tied for the sixth-lowest 18-hole performance in school history.

Atkinson Earns All-League Honors

• Senior Justin Atkinson was named Second-Team All-Horizon League in his debut season as a Penguin. The Brookfield, Ohio, native transferred back home to the Mahoning Valley for his final collegiate campaign after a standout three-year career at Division II Findlay University.
• Atkinson averaged a team-best 73.3 strokes per round in 2023-24 while competing in all 11 tournaments and 32 rounds. The senior came in as YSU's top finisher on a team-high five occasions while recording a low round of 68 three times. Atkinson's 73.3 scoring average is tied for the sixth-lowest single-season mark in program history.
• Atkinson also paced the Penguins with four top-10 finishes during the 2023-24 season. He finished tied for sixth at the Bucknell Invitational with a three-round score of 211 (73-70-68). Atkinson tied for seventh at the Horizon League Championships with a three-round total of 219 (70-76-73). He tied for eighth at the Tom Tontimonia Invitational with a three-round 208 (69-70-69). Atkinson's three-round 208 is tied for the third-lowest 54-hole score in program history.
• Atkinson also tied for 10th at the Joe Feaganes Marshall Invitational with a three-round score of 209 (70-68-71). The senior's three-round 209 is tied for the seventh-lowest 54-hole performance in school history.

Christman Concludes Accomplished Career

• Fifth-year senior Cole Christman concluded his accomplished YSU career in 2023-24. The Boardman, Ohio, native finished his career ranking tied for 12th in program history with 112 career rounds played. Christman's 75.4 career scoring average ranks as the seventh-lowest mark by a Penguin since 2000.
• Christman competed in eight tournaments and 23 rounds this past season while averaging 73.4 strokes per round and matching his career-low round of 67 on two occasions. He tied for fifth at the Horizon League Championships with a three-round score of 218 (77-70-71) to earn a spot on the Horizon League All-Tournament Team for the second time in his career. Christman became just the third player in YSU history to be named to the Horizon League All-Tournament Team multiple times, joining Nate Komsa and Brandon Pluchinsky.
• Christman tied for 12th at the Highland Meadows Intercollegiate with a three-round total of 211 (73-67-71). He tied for 23rd at NKU's The Jewell with a three-round 219 (71-73-75), and he tied for 24th at the Tom Tontimonia Invitational with a 212 (70-75-67). Christman's 73.4 scoring average in 2023-24 ranks as the eighth-lowest single-season mark in program history.

Austalosh Enjoys Career Year in Final Season

• Dean Austalosh put together the best statistical season of his career as a redshirt senior in 2023-24. The Campbell, Ohio, native posted new career bests with 11 tournaments played, 32 rounds played, a 75.3 scoring average and a low round of 68.
• Austalosh competed in 26 tournaments and 73 rounds over the last four seasons after redshirting 2019-20. The redshirt senior's 76.2 career scoring average ranks 13th on YSU's list of lowest career scoring averages since 2000.
• Austalosh tied for 12th at the Virtues Intercollegiate with a career-best three-round score of 212 (68-73-71). He tied for 22nd at the Don Benbow Butler Spring Invitational with a two-round total of 141 (73-68).

Depth on Display

• The depth of Youngstown State's 2023-24 roster was on display this past season as eight of the team's 12 players competed in at least three tournaments. In addition, six different players participated in at least seven events during the campaign.
• Atkinson and Austalosh competed in all 11 tournaments and 32 rounds while Jacob Sylak participated in 10 tournaments and 29 rounds. Christman and Ryan Sam each competed in eight tournaments and 23 rounds while Michael Porter participated in seven tournaments and 21 rounds. Jimmy Graham and Jake Ryan each competed in three tournaments this past season while Conner Stevens participated in one event. Redshirt freshman Ayden Richmond and true freshmen Nolan Shilling  and Josh Weiner did not see action for the Penguins in 2023-24.
• Sylak averaged a career-best 75.8 strokes per round with a career-low round of 70 as a junior in 2023-24. The Mineral Ridge, Ohio, native finished tied for 14th in his debut at the Horizon League Championships with a three-round total of 223 (72-76-75). He also tied for 34th at the Joe Feaganes Marshall Invitational with a career-best three-round score of 216 (70-73-73).
• Sam averaged a career-best 75.2 strokes per round with a career-low round of 68. He earned a career-best sixth-place finish at the Bucknell Invitational with a three-round 211 (74-68-69). Sam also finished tied for 10th at the Horizon League Championships with a three-round total of 221 (77-72-72).
• Porter averaged 76.0 strokes per round with a low round of 68 as a redshirt freshman in 2023-24. The McDonald, Ohio, native fired a three-under-par 68 at the Joe Feaganes Marshall Invitational in the first competitive round of his collegiate career. Porter's 68 represents the lowest round by a YSU freshman since Pluchinsky carded a 66 at the Horizon League Championships in April 2013.

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