The Youngstown State men's golf team's 2025-26 season was highlighted by a tournament victory and four additional top five team finishes.

The Penguins competed in 12 events across seven different states from early September to late April during the campaign.

Highlights and key accomplishments from the team's 2025-26 season are detailed below.

Penguins Claim Tournament Title at Bucknell Invitational

• Youngstown State claimed the tournament title at the three-day 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 tournament's opening round. YSU responded by firing a tournament and season-low team round of 277 (-3) in the second session 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, 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 matches the ninth-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.
• Youngstown State has now posted a tournament win in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 2014-15 and 2015-16 campaigns.

YSU Earns Four Additional Top Five Team Performances

• In addition to their tournament title at the Bucknell Invitational, the Penguins earned runner-up finishes at the Mercyhurst Laker Fall Invitational and South Dakota State's Jackrabbit Invitational. YSU also finished fourth at the Xavier Invitational and fifth at the 2026 Horizon League Championship.
• 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's second-round 278 at the event ranks as the sixth-lowest 18-hole performance in program history.
• YSU's three-round team total of 851 at the Jackrabbit Invitational is tied for the fourth-lowest 54-hole performance in program history.

Sam Concludes Accomplished Career

• Senior Ryan Sam concluded his accomplished YSU career by earning Second-Team All-Horizon League honors. Sam, YSU's lone senior and team captain in 2025-26, collected all-league honors for the first time in his four-year career.
• Sam, a native of Canfield, Ohio, participated in all 12 tournaments and 36 rounds as a senior in 2025-26. He averaged a team and career best 73.2 strokes per round with a low round of 67 while earning two top 10 finishes and seven top 25 performances this past season. Sam was one of three Penguins to set a new single-season school record with 36 rounds played in 2025-26. The senior's 73.2 strokes per round average ranks as the sixth-lowest single-season mark in program history.
• Sam was named the Horizon League Men's Golfer of the Week on March 12 after leading the Penguins to a runner-up team finish at the two-day Jackrabbit Invitational. The senior finished tied for second on the individual leaderboard with a career-best, six-under-par three-round score of 210 (70-67-73) to earn the best individual finish of his career. Sam fired a career-low, five-under-par round of 67 in the second round of the Jackrabbit Invitational on March 9.
• Sam finished fifth at the Bucknell Invitational at three over par with a three-round total of 213 (74-69-70), and he finished tied for 11th at the Don Benbow Butler Spring Invitational with a three-round 210 (71-68-71). He finished tied for 13th at the Xavier Invitational with a three-round score of 220 (75-71-74), and he concluded his collegiate career by finishing tied for 14th at the 2026 Horizon League Men's Golf Championship. Sam finished his YSU career having played in a total of 43 tournaments and ranking fifth in program history with 122 career rounds played.
• Sam was also voted to the 2026 Valeo Horizon League Men's Golf All-Academic Team for his combined performance on the course and in the classroom.

Porter, Kish Provide Consistent Presence in Lineup

• Redshirt junior Michael Porter and sophomore Jordan Kish joined Sam in setting a new school record with 36 rounds played in 2025-26.
• Porter participated in all 12 tournaments and 36 rounds for the Penguins as a redshirt junior in 2025-26. The McDonald, Ohio, native averaged 73.4 strokes per round with a low round of 67 while earning three top 10 finishes and six top 25 performances this past season. Porter's 73.4 scoring average is tied for the ninth-lowest single-season mark in program history.
• Porter earned a career-best second-place individual finish at even par with a three-round score of 216 (72-77-67) at the Mercyhurst Laker Fall Invitational. 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.
• Porter placed seventh at the Jackrabbit Invitational with at three-round score of 213 (71-70-72), and he finished tied for seventh at NKU's The Jewell with a three-round 216 (74-74-68). Porter finished tied for 14th the Horizon League Championship with a three-round total of 223 (75-76-72).
• Kish participated in all 12 tournaments and 36 rounds for the Penguins as a sophomore in 2025-26. The Massillon, Ohio, native averaged 73.9 strokes per round with a low round of 69 while earning one top 10 finish, three top 25 finishes and six top 30 performances this past season.
• Kish matched the best finish of his career as he tied for third at the Mercyhurst Laker Fall Invitational with a three-round total of 217 (73-70-74). The sophomore finished tied for 15th at the Bucknell Invitational with a three-round score of 216 (73-69-74). Kish 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. He 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.
• Kish finished tied for 15th at the Jackrabbit Invitational with a three-round score of 215 (71-74-70), and he finished tied for 28th at the Wright State Invitational with a three-round 220 (69-76-75).

Sophomore Class Stepping Up

• In addition to Kish, sophomores Nolan Shilling, Rocco Turner, Josh Weiner and Bryar Moss each played in multiple tournaments for the Penguins in 2025-26.
• Shilling participated in 11 tournaments and 33 rounds for the Penguins this past season as a redshirt sophomore. The Murrysville, Pa., native averaged 75.3 strokes per round with a low round of 67 while earning three top 25 finishes in 2025-26.
• Shilling's top individual finish of the season 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.
• Shilling finished tied for 15th at the Jackrabbit Invitational with a three-round total of 215 (72-75-68), and he finished tied for 24th at the Horizon League Championship with a three-round 226 (75-73-78).
• Turner participated in 10 tournaments and 28 rounds as a true sophomore, finishing with a 75.4 strokes per round average and a low round of 68. The Youngstown, Ohio, native 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).
• 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.
• Weiner participated in five tournaments and 15 rounds for the Penguins as a redshirt sophomore in 2025-26. The Macedonia, Ohio, native averaged 75.5 strokes per round while firing a low round of 73 on three occasions. Weiner finished tied for 17th at the Mercyhurst Laker Fall Invitational with a three-round total of 226 (76-74-76), and he finished tied for 28th at the Jackrabbit Invitational with a three-round 220 (74-73-73).
• Moss competed in two tournaments and six rounds in his debut season as a Penguin after spending his freshman campaign at Tennessee State. The Parker, Colo., native averaged 76.0 strokes per round with a low round of 73 as a sophomore in 2025-26. Moss finished tied for 22nd at the Mercyhurst Laker Fall Invitational with a three-round score of 227 (76-77-74).

Depth on Display

• The depth of Youngstown State's roster was on display during the 2025-26 season as all nine golfers appeared in at least two tournaments. Additionally, eight different Penguins participated in at least five tournaments during this past season.
• Junior Jake Ryan participated in seven tournaments and 21 rounds for YSU this past season. The Akron, Ohio, native averaged 75.9 strokes per round with a low round of 70 in 2025-26. Ryan's top individual finish of the season came when he finished tied for 17th at the Mercyhurst Laker Fall Invitational with a three-round score of 226 (76-75-75).
• Redshirt junior Ayden Richmond competed in five tournaments and 15 rounds during the 2025-26 season, finishing with a 75.4 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 of the event.

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