The Youngstown State men's golf team will open the spring portion of its 2025-26 season on Saturday when it begins play in the two-day Savannah Intercollegiate at The Club at Savannah Harbor in Savannah, Ga.

The Savannah Intercollegiate begins a spring schedule for the Penguins which includes six events culminating with the 2026 Horizon League Championships on April 25-27 at Mission Inn Resort in Howey-In-The-Hills, Fla. YSU will travel to five different states during its spring slate.

Youngstown State was selected eighth in the 2026 Under Armour Horizon League Men's Golf Preseason Poll after a vote of the league's head coaches. The Penguins received a total of 35 points in the poll. The defending league champion, Wright State, received 92 points and six of a possible 10 first-place votes to be picked as the league favorite. Oakland received three first-place votes and 87 points to be tabbed second while Green Bay came in at third with one first-place vote and 82 points.

The tournament field at the Savannah Intercollegiate will feature 16 other schools including Bowling Green, Bradley, Colgate, Columbia, Dartmouth, Fairfield, Iona, IU Indy, Lehigh, Longwood, Morehead State, Purdue Fort Wayne, Queens, Sacred Heart, Villanova and West Georgia.

The teams will play 36 holes on Saturday and 18 holes on Sunday 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 7,161 yards and par is 72.

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

Fall Recap

Penguins Surge Back to Claim Tournament Title at Bucknell Invitational

• The Penguins claimed their first tournament victory of the season after winning the team title at the Bucknell Invitational on Oct. 14 at Bucknell Golf Club in Lewisburg, Pa.
• The Penguins were in ninth place and 11 shots off the lead after posting a single-round team score of 292 (+12) in the three-day tournament's opening round on Oct. 12. YSU responded by firing a tournament and season-low team round of 277 (-3) in the second session on Oct. 13 to catapult to the top of the team leaderboard.
• The Penguins brought home the tournament crown with a 288 (+8) in the third and final round on Oct. 14, holding off the field and finishing five strokes in front of runner-up Robert Morris with a three-round total of 857 (+17). YSU's 857 matched the eighth-lowest 54-hole performance in school history.
• Youngstown State's second-round 277 is tied for the fourth-lowest 18-hole score in program history, and it is the lowest single-round mark for the Guins since recording a 276 at the Bucknell Invitational on Oct. 10, 2021.
• Three Penguins finished in the top 15 on the individual leaderboard as Ryan Sam and Rocco Turner each tied for fifth and Jordan Kish tied for 15th. Sam and Turner each earned the highest individual finish of their career to power YSU to its second team triumph in as many fall campaigns.

Two Additional Top Five Finishes

• In addition to their tournament victory at the Bucknell Invitational, the Penguins earned two more top five team performances during the fall portion of the 2025-26 season. YSU finished second at the Mercyhurst Laker Fall Invitational (Sept. 14-15) before placing fourth in its fall finale at the Xavier Invitational (Oct. 20-21).
• Youngstown State also opened the fall schedule with a sixth-place finish at the Joe Feaganes Marshall Invitational (Sept. 8-9). The Penguins concluded the event at six under par with a three-round team total of 846, which ranks as the second-lowest 54-hole performance in program history. It is the lowest 54-hole team score for the Penguins since recording a school-record 835 at the IPFW Fall Classic in 2007-08.
• YSU opened its fall campaign with a 280 (-4) before carding a 278 (-6) in the second session. The Guins closed the tournament with a final-round 288 (+4) to finish tied for sixth in the 15-team field. YSU's second-round 278 ranks as the sixth-lowest 18-hole performance in program history.

Sam Continues to Serve as Senior Leader

• Senior Ryan Sam continues to serve as YSU's captain and leader as the lone senior on the squad in 2025-26. The Canfield, Ohio, native has now competed in 37 tournaments and 104 rounds in his career after participating in all six tournaments and 18 rounds this past fall.
• Sam is averaging a team-best 73.0 strokes per round with a low round of 69 heading into the spring season. He earned four top 25 performances during the fall portion of the season headlined by a fifth-place individual finish in YSU's victory at the Bucknell Invitational.
• Sam finished the Bucknell Invitational at three over par with a three-round total of 213 (74-69-70) to earn the highest individual finish of his career. The senior turned in a season-low, one-under-par 69 in the second round that included 11 pars and four birdies.
• Sam also finished tied for 13th at the Xavier Invitational with a three-round score of 220 (75-71-74) to claim his second straight top 15 performance to conclude the fall slate.

Porter Provides Consistent Prescence in Lineup

• Redshirt junior Michael Porter has now competed in 23 tournaments and 64 rounds in his career after participating in all six tournaments and 18 rounds this past fall.
• Porter ranks third on the squad heading into the spring with a career best 73.3 strokes per round average. The McDonald, Ohio, native collected three top 25 performances during the fall season including a career best second-place finish at the Mercyhurst Laker Fall Invitational.
• Porter earned a runner-up individual finish at even par with a three-round score of 216 (72-77-67). The redshirt junior's career-low, five-under-par 67 in the final round featured 11 pars, six birdies and one bogey. Porter also turned in an even-par 72 in the opening round that included 10 pars and four birdies.
• Playing as an individual, Porter tied for 21st to come in as YSU's top finisher at the season-opening Joe Feaganes Marshall Invitational. The redshirt junior finished with a career-best three-round score of 211 (70-71-70).
• Porter also finished tied for 23rd at the Xavier Invitational with a three-round total of 222 (76-75-71) to post his third top 25 performance of the fall campaign.

Kish Building on Strong Debut Campaign

• Sophomore Jordan Kish competed in all six tournaments and 18 rounds this past fall after participating in all 12 tournaments and 31 rounds for the Penguins as a freshman in 2024-25.
• The Massillon, Ohio, native ranks second on the team with a 73.1 strokes per round average ahead of the spring season. Kish earned a pair of top 15 performances during the fall including a third-place finish at the Mercyhurst Laker Fall Invitational.
• Kish matched the best finish of his career as he tied for third with a three-round total of 217 (73-70-74). The sophomore's two-under-par 70 in the second round featured eight pars and six birdies while his first-round 73 included nine pars and four birdies.
• Kish finished tied for 15th at the Bucknell Invitational with a three-round score of 216 (73-69-74). The sophomore matched his season and career low round with a one-under-par 69 in the second session that included nine pars and five birdies as he shot a two-under-par 34 on the front nine.
• Kish turned in a career-low, two-under-par 69 in the second round of the season-opening Joe Feaganes Marshall Invitational that featured 10 pars and five birdies. He also went on to eagle the par-four No. 3 at Guyan Golf & Country Club during the final round of play.

Depth on Display

• The depth of Youngstown State's roster was on display during the fall season as all nine golfers appeared in at least one tournament. Additionally, eight different Penguins participated in at least two tournaments during the fall slate.
• Redshirt sophomore Nolan Shilling competed in all six tournaments and 18 rounds during the fall portion of the 2025-26 season. The Murrysville, Pa., native is averaging 74.2 strokes per round with a low round of 67 ahead of the spring season.
• Shilling's top individual finish of the fall came when he finished tied for 14th at the Mercyhurst Laker Fall Invitational with a three-round score of 225 (76-72-77). The redshirt sophomore fired a career-low, four-under-par 67 in the second round of the season-opening Joe Feaganes Marshall Invitational that featured 12 pars and five birdies as he fired a three-under-par 33 on the front nine.
• Sophomore Rocco Turner participated in five tournaments and 15 rounds this past fall, finishing with a 73.9 strokes per round average and a low round of 68. The Youngstown, Ohio, native earned a career best fifth-place individual finish in YSU's victory at the Bucknell Invitational.
• Turner fired a career-low, two-under-par 68 in the final round of the Bucknell Invitational to finish at three over par for the event and match his career best three-round score of 213 (72-73-68). The sophomore's final round 68 featured 12 pars and four birdies as he made par or better on each of his final 10 holes.
• Turner also finished tied for 31st with a career-best three-round score of 213 (71-71-71) at the season-opening Joe Feaganes Marshall Invitational. He fired an even-par 71 in the first round that featured nine pars, four birdies and an eagle on the par-five No. 8 at Guyan Golf & Country Club.
• Redshirt junior Ayden Richmond competed in four tournaments and 12 rounds during the fall slate, finishing with a 74.7 strokes per round average and a career low round of 68. The Geneva, Ohio, native earned the top individual finish of his career when he tied for 14th at the Mercyhurst Laker Fall Invitational with a three-round 225 (75-76-74). Richmond recorded an eagle on the par-five No. 6 at Lake View Country Club during the final round.
• Richmond recorded a career-best three-round score of 216 (68-71-77) at the season-opening Joe Feaganes Marshall Invitational. The redshirt junior opened the season with a career-low, three-under-par 68 that included nine pars and six birdies.
• Junior Jake Ryan participated in three tournaments and nine rounds during the fall campaign, finishing with a 75.0 strokes per round average and a low round of 70. Ryan's top individual finish of the fall came when he finished tied for 17th at the Mercyhurst Laker Fall Invitational with a three-round score of 226 (76-75-75).
• Sophomore Bryar Moss competed in two tournaments and six rounds this past fall in his first action as a Penguin after transferring from Tennessee State. The Parker, Colo., native averaged 76.0 strokes per round with a low round of 73 during the fall season. Moss finished tied for 22nd with a three-round 227 (76-77-74) in his YSU debut at the Mercyhurst Laker Fall Invitational.
• Redshirt sophomore Josh Weiner finished tied for 17th at the Mercyhurst Laker Fall Invitational with a three-round total of 226 (76-74-76) while competing as individual in his lone tournament appearance of the fall season. The performance represented the highest individual finish of Weiner's career.

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