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The Youngstown State men’s golf team will open the 2025-26 season on Monday when it begins play in the two-day Joe Feaganes Marshall Invitational at Guyan Golf & Country Club in Huntington, W. Va.
Marshall’s annual event will begin a six-tournament fall schedule for the Penguins that will conclude in late October before the season resumes in the spring.
The tournament field at the Joe Feaganes Marshall Invitational will feature 14 other schools including Bellarmine, Central Michigan, Cleveland State, Dayton, Eastern Kentucky, Longwood, Marshall, Missouri State, Murray State, Northern Kentucky, Ohio, Purdue Fort Wayne, Radford and Robert Morris.
The teams are scheduled to play 36 continuous holes on Monday and 18 holes on Tuesday in the two-day, 54-hole event. Play is slated to begin with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. each day. Live scoring will be available throughout the tournament via Scoreboard through links posted on YSUsports.com.
Head Coach Tony Joy has announced that YSU’s five-player lineup will feature Nolan Shilling, Ryan Sam, Rocco Turner, Ayden Richmond and Jordan Kish. In addition, Michael Porter will be competing as an individual for the Penguins.
Season Preview
Looking to Build on 2024-25
Youngstown State enters its fall season looking to build on the success achieved during the 2024-25 season.
Youngstown State claimed the tournament title at the Red Flash Invitational hosted by Saint Francis on Oct. 8, 2024, 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 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.
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.
Sam Returns as Senior Leader
Ryan Sam returns as YSU’s lone senior on the 2025-26 roster. The Canfield, Ohio, native has competed in 31 tournaments and 86 rounds over his first three years as a Penguin.
Sam participated in all 12 tournaments and 31 rounds last 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.
Experienced Upperclassmen
In addition to Sam, YSU’s roster features three other upperclassmen who will provide experience and veteran presence.
Redshirt junior Michael Porter has competed in 17 tournaments and 46 rounds over the last two seasons. The McDonald, Ohio, native competed in 10 tournaments 25 rounds with a 75.0 strokes-per-round average and a low round of 69 in 2024-25. Porter earned four top 25 finishes during his redshirt sophomore season.
Junior Jake Ryan has participated in 14 tournaments and 37 rounds over his first two seasons as a Penguin. The Akron, Ohio, native participated in 11 tournaments and 28 rounds in 2024-25, averaging 75.0 strokes per round and posting a low round of 68. Ryan collected five top 25 finishes and a pair of top 10 finishes during his sophomore season.
Redshirt junior Ayden Richmond saw his first collegiate action as a redshirt sophomore in 2024-25. The Geneva, Ohio, native 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. Richmond recorded a two-round score of 148 (74-74) at the Tom Tontimonia Invitational.
Talented Underclassmen
Youngstown State’s roster also features five talented underclassmen who are expected to make an impact during the 2025-26 season.
Redshirt sophomore Nolan Shilling participated in 11 tournaments and 28 rounds as a redshirt freshman in 2024-25. 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 last season after redshirting in 2023-24.
Sophomore Jordan Kish competed in all 12 tournaments and 31 rounds last 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.
Sophomore Rocco Turner participated in four events and 10 rounds during his debut collegiate season in 2024-25, 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 Josh Weiner participated in three tournaments and eight rounds with a 75.0 strokes-per-round average and a low round of 71 in 2024-25. 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).
YSU also added sophomore Bryar Moss through the transfer portal ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. The Parker, Colo., native joins the Penguins after an impressive freshman campaign at Tennessee State in 2024-25. He participated in nine tournaments and 24 rounds for the Tigers last season, averaging 76.6 strokes per round with a low round of 69. Moss earned one top 10 finish and five top 25 performances in his first season at the Division I level in 2024-25. He placed fourth at the ASU Spring Classic with a two-round 148 (75-73), and he finished tied for 12th at the 39th Annual Thomas W. Dortch Jr. HBCU Golf Classic with a two-round score of 150 (76-74).
Roster Composition
Youngstown State’s nine-player roster in 2025-26 includes seven players from the state of Ohio, one from Pennsylvania and one from Colorado.
YSU’s roster includes one senior, three juniors and five sophomores.
The Penguins have five student-athletes who hail from Northeast Ohio and three natives of the greater Mahoning Valley.
Up Next
Following their season-opening event in West Virginia, the Penguins will compete in the Mercyhurst Laker Fall Invitational on Sept. 14-15 at Lakeview Country Club in Erie, Pa.
For the latest news and updates throughout the 2025-26 season, follow @YSUMensGolf on X and Instagram.
