The Youngstown State men's golf team will open the spring portion of its 2024-25 season on Monday when it begins play in the two-day World Golf Village Collegiate hosted by Eastern Kentucky at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla.

The World Golf Village Collegiate begins a spring schedule for the Penguins which includes six events culminating with the 2025 Horizon League Championships on April 19-21 at Mission Inn Resort in Howey-In-The-Hills, Fla. YSU will travel to four different states during its spring slate.

The tournament field at the World Golf Village Collegiate will feature 15 other schools including Bellarmine, Belmont, Butler, Eastern Illinois, Eastern Kentucky, Embry-Riddle, Flagler College, IU Indy, North Carolina A&T, North Florida, Oakland, Purdue Fort Wayne, Queens, Rhode Island and West Georgia.

The teams will play 36 holes on Monday and 18 holes on Tuesday in the two-day, 54-hole event. Play is scheduled to begin with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. each day. The course will play approximately 7,155 yards and par is 72. Live scoring will be available via Scoreboard Live through links posted on YSUsports.com and the program's social media accounts.

Head Coach Tony Joy has announced that YSU's five-player lineup will feature Jacob Sylak, Ryan Sam, Michael Porter, Jake Ryan and Jordan Kish. In addition, Nolan Shilling will be competing as an individual for the Penguins.

Fall Recap

Tournament Victory at Red Flash Invitational

• The Penguins claimed their first tournament victory of the season after winning the team title at the Red Flash Invitational hosted by Saint Francis on Oct. 8 at Sunnehanna Country Club in Johnstown, Pa.
• YSU recorded a two-round team total of 579 in the two-day, 36-hole event to outduel rival Cleveland State by three strokes. The performance ranks as the sixth-lowest 36-hole team score in program history.
• Youngstown State had three golfers finish in the top 10 of the individual standings at the Red Flash Invitational. Senior Jacob Sylak (71-73) and sophomore Jake Ryan (72-72) each tied for fourth with a two-round score of 144 while freshman Jordan Kish tied for ninth with a 145 (72-73). All three Penguins registered the best finish of their collegiate career. In addition, freshman Rocco Turner recorded a career-low round of 75 while playing as an individual.
• The victory marked YSU's first tournament win since taking the top spot in a 12-team field the NKU's The Jewell (April 10-11, 2022) in Batavia, Ohio.

Two Additional Top-Five Finishes

• In addition to their tournament victory at the Red Flash Invitational, the Penguins earned two more top five team finishes during the fall portion of the 2024-25 season. YSU finished fifth at the Tom Tontimonia Invitational (Sept. 30-Oct. 1) before placing third in its fall finale at the Bucknell Invitational (Oct. 13-15).
• The Penguins finished the two-day Tom Tontimonia Invitational at 11 over par with a two-round team total of 571 to match the school record for lowest 36-hole performance. YSU also recorded a 571 at the Joe Feaganes Marshall Invitational during the 2018-19 season.
• The Penguins concluded the Bucknell Invitational with a three-round team total of 861 to finish in third place. YSU's three-round 861 is tied for the ninth-lowest 54-hole performance in program history. YSU recorded a season-low team round of 282 in the opening round of its final fall tournament.

Upperclassmen Leading the Charge

• Senior Jacob Sylak and junior Ryan Sam have continued to provide consistent play as two of the upperclassmen on YSU's roster in 2024-25.
• Sylak competed in four tournaments and eight rounds while averaging 73.1 strokes per round and firing a career-low round of 69 during the fall season. The Mineral Ridge, Ohio, native tied for fourth at the Red Flash Invitational with a two-round score of 144 (71-73). He also finished tied for 20th at the Tom Tontimonia Invitational with a two-round 142 (73-69).
• Sylak recorded back-to-back rounds of even-par 70 over the first two rounds of the Bucknell Invitational before being forced to withdraw in the final session due to injury.
• Sam participated in all six tournaments and 15 rounds this past fall while averaging 74.0 strokes per round and recording a low round of 69. The Canfield, Ohio, native recorded three top 25 finishes during the fall portion of the campaign.
• Sam tied for 14th at the season-opening Red Bandana Invitational with a three-round total of 225 (79-69-77). He tied for 14th at the Red Flash Invitational with a two-round score of 147 (72-75), and he tied for 22nd at the Bucknell Invitational with a three-round 217 (71-75-71).

Youth Movement

• Youngstown State also has several underclassmen who have made a major impact to this point in the 2024-25 season.
• Redshirt sophomore Michael Porter competed in five tournaments 13 rounds in the fall with a 73.9 strokes-per-round average and a low round of 69. The McDonald, Ohio, native earned three top 25 finishes during the fall season.
• Porter finished tied for 21st in the season-opening Red Bandana Invitational with a three-round total of 228 (76-78-74). He finished tied for 20th at the Tom Tontimonia Invitational with a two-round 142 (72-70), and he tied for 11th at the Bucknell Invitational with a career-best three-round 213 (73-71-69).
• Sophomore Jake Ryan participated in all six tournaments and 15 rounds during the fall slate, averaging 74.6 strokes per round and posting a low round of 69. The Akron, Ohio, native collected three top 25 finishes and a pair of top 10 finishes during the fall.
• Ryan finished tied for eighth at the Tom Tontimonia Invitational with a two-round score of 140 (70-70) before finishing tied for fourth at the Red Flash Invitational with a 144 (72-72). He also finished tied for 22nd at the Bucknell Invitational with a three-round 217 (69-75-73).
• True freshman Jordan Kish competed in all six tournaments and 15 rounds this past fall while averaging 74.4 strokes per round and carding a low round of 71 on three occasions. The Massillon, Ohio, native was YSU's top individual finisher at the Joe Feaganes Marshall Invitational with a three-round total of 215 (73-71-71) and at the Virtues Intercollegiate with a two-round 150 (76-74).
• Kish earned his first-career top 10 finish when he tied for ninth at the Red Flash Invitational with a two-round score of 145 (72-73).
• Redshirt freshman Nolan Shilling participated in five tournaments and 12 rounds during the fall season. The Murrysville, Pa., native averaged 74.3 strokes per round while turning in a low round of 68 at the Bucknell Invitational.

Depth on Display

• The depth of Youngstown State's roster was on display during the fall season as nine different golfers appeared in at least one tournament. Additionally, eight different Penguins participated in at least two tournaments during the fall slate.
• Kish, Ryan and Sam competed in all six tournaments, Porter and Shilling each participated in five events and Sylak played in four tournaments during the fall.
• Redshirt sophomore Ayden Richmond competed in the first two tournaments of his career, averaging 75.6 strokes per round and firing a low round of 74 on two occasions.
• True freshman Rocco Turner participated in two events this past fall, averaging 80.6 strokes per round and recording a low round of 75.
• Redshirt freshman Josh Weiner finished with a two-round score of 145 (74-71) in his collegiate debut at the Tom Tontimonia Invitational.

For the latest news and updates throughout the spring season, follow @YSUMensGolf on X and Instagram.