The Youngstown State men's golf team's 2024-25 season was highlighted by a tournament victory and three additional top five team finishes.

The Penguins competed in 12 events across seven different states from early September to late April during its 2024-25 season.

Highlights and key accomplishments from the team's 2024-25 season are detailed below.

Penguins Claim Tournament Title at Red Flash Invitational

• Youngstown State claimed the tournament 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 out duel rival Cleveland State by three strokes. The performance ranks as the sixth-lowest 36-hole team score in program history.
• The Guins had a 292 for the final round after opening with a 287 in the opening session. Trailing by two strokes after round one, the Penguins were five shots better than CSU to rally to the victory.
• 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). The victory marked YSU's first tournament win since taking the top spot at Northern Kentucky's The Jewell (April 10-11, 2022) in Batavia, Ohio.

Three Additional Top Five Finishes

• In addition to their tournament victory at the Red Flash Invitational, the Penguins earned three more top five team finishes during the 2024-25 season.
• YSU finished fifth at the Tom Tontimonia Invitational (Sept. 30-Oct. 1) before placing third at the Bucknell Invitational (Oct. 13-15) and tied for fourth at the Jackrabbit Invitational (March 7-8).
• 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 10th-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.
• Youngstown State finished seventh at the 2025 Horizon League Men's Golf Championship with a three-round team total of 910. The Guins carded back-to-back team scores of 309 over the first two rounds before closing the event with final-round 292.

Upperclassman Lead Charge

• Senior Jacob Sylak and junior Ryan Sam continued to provide consistent play as two of the upperclassmen on YSU's roster in 2024-25.
• Sylak competed in 10 tournaments and 23 rounds while averaging 75.6 strokes per round and firing a career-low round of 69. The Mineral Ridge, Ohio, native tied for fourth at the Red Flash Invitational with a two-round score of 144 (71-73). He finished tied for 20th at the Tom Tontimonia Invitational with a two-round 142 (73-69). Sylak also finished tied for 21st at the Jackrabbit Invitational with a three-round 229 (77-76-76).
• Sam participated in all 12 tournaments and 31 rounds this past season while averaging 74.3 strokes per round and recording a low round of 69. The Canfield, Ohio, native recorded five top 25 performances during his junior campaign. Sam finished tied for ninth at the Horizon League Championship with a three-round score of 222 (75-76-71) to come in as YSU's top individual.
• 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). Sam also tied for 11th at NKU's The Jewell with a two-round total of 143 (74-69).

Youth Movement

• Youngstown State also had several underclassmen who made a major impact during the 2024-25 season.
• Redshirt sophomore Michael Porter competed in 10 tournaments 25 rounds with a 75.0 strokes-per-round average and a low round of 69. The McDonald, Ohio, native earned four top 25 finishes during the 2024-25 campaign.
• 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). Porter also finished tied for 21st at the Wright State Invitational with a three-round 213 (71-70-72).
• Sophomore Jake Ryan participated in 11 tournaments and 28 rounds in 2024-25, averaging 75.0 strokes per round and posting a low round of 68. The Akron, Ohio, native collected five top 25 finishes and a pair of top 10 finishes during his sophomore season.
• 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 finished tied for 22nd at the Bucknell Invitational with a three-round 217 (69-75-73). Ryan tied for 16th at the Wright State Invitational with a three-round 212 (71-73-68) before finishing tied for 14th in his debut at the Horizon League Championship with a three-round 225 (76-78-71).
• Redshirt freshman Nolan Shilling participated in 11 tournaments and 28 rounds during the 2024-25 season. The Murrysville, Pa., native averaged 74.5 strokes per round while turning in a low round of 68 on three occasions. Shilling earned four top 25 performances this past season after redshirting in 2023-24.
• Shilling finished tied for 16th at the Don Benbow Butler Spring Invitational with a three-round score of 212 (68-68-76), and he tied for 17th at NKU's The Jewell with a two-round score of 144 (72-72). The redshirt freshman placed 18th at the Jackrabbit Invitational with a three-round total of 228 (79-73-76), and he finished tied for 22nd at the Bucknell Invitational with a three-round 217 (68-75-74).
• True freshman Jordan Kish competed in all 12 tournaments and 31 rounds this past season while averaging 74.6 strokes per round and carding a low round of 70. The Massillon, Ohio, native earned a pair of top 10 finishes and three top 25 performances during his debut collegiate campaign.
• Kish was named the Horizon League Men's Golfer of the Week on March 13 after placing third at the Jackrabbit Invitational with a three-round score of 215 (70-74-71). The freshman tied for ninth at the Red Flash Invitational with a two-round total of 145 (72-73), and he tied for 18th at the World Golf Village Collegiate with a two-round 150 (78-72).

Depth on Display

• The depth of Youngstown State's roster was on display once again during the 2024-25 season as all 10 golfers appeared in at least one tournament. Additionally, nine different Penguins participated in at least three tournaments during the campaign.
• Kish and Sam competed in all 12 tournaments, Ryan and Shilling each participated in 11 events and both Porter and Sylak played in 10 tournaments during the 2024-25 season.
• True freshman Rocco Turner participated in four events and 10 rounds during his debut collegiate season, averaging 81.3 strokes per round and recording a low round of 75. The Youngstown, Ohio, native finished tied for 29th at the Red Flash Invitational with a two-round score of 153 (78-75).
• Redshirt sophomore Ayden Richmond competed in the first three tournaments of his career, averaging 79.0 strokes per round and firing a low round of 74 on two occasions. The Geneva, Ohio, native recorded a two-round score of 148 (74-74) at the Tom Tontimonia Invitational.
• Redshirt freshman Josh Weiner participated in three tournaments and eight rounds with a 75.0 strokes-per-round average and a low round of 71. The Macedonia, Ohio, native tied for 35th in his collegiate debut at the Tom Tontimonia Invitational with a two-round score of 145 (74-71).
• Redshirt senior Conner Stevens competed in one tournament and three rounds, recording a three-round score of 225 (78-74-73) at the Wright State Invitational.

Emptying The Notebook

• Youngstown State finished with a three-round team score of 856 at the Wright State Invitational. YSU's 856 is tied for the fifth-lowest 54-hole performance in program history. It was also the lowest 54-hole performance since the Penguins posted an 847 at the Bucknell Invitational in 2021-22.

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