By Marissa Masano
The Youngstown State University men’s and women’s golf teams continued their fall seasons at two separate invitationals.
The men traveled to the Virtues Golf Club in Nashport on Sept. 25 and 26 and competed in the Virtues Intercollegiate hosted by Miami University.
The team finished tied for 13th with Robert Morris University and earned a three round team total of 883. At the end of the first round, the Penguins finished with a score of 290 and tied for eighth.
The team had a 299 second round total to end the first day. The team found itself tied for 14th, heading into the second day of the invitational. The Penguins’ third-round score was 294.
The top finisher for the Penguins was redshirt senior Dean Austalosh, who tied for 12th with a career-best, three-round score of 212. In the opening round, the redshirt senior had a career-low, four-under-par 68. Within the opener, he had 12 pars and five birdies.
Austalosh’s second round featured ten pars and four birdies, totaling 73. To close the invitational, 13 pars and three birdies accompanied his final round of 71. Austalosh ended the invitational, being tied for 6th in pars with 35 total.
The next finisher for the Penguins was senior Justin Atkinson, whose three-round total of 219 placed him tied for 38th. The senior opened the invitational with an even par of 72, including 12 pars, two birdies and an eagle.
He had a second round of 75 and final round of 72, which featured 10 pars and four birdies. The senior tied for 7th in pars on the individual leaderboard with 34.
Graduate student Cole Christman debuted for the first time this season. He finished tied for 62nd with a three-round total of 225. Christman’s first round of 73 included 14 pars and two birdies. The second and third round scores for the graduate student were 75 and 77, respectively.
The women competed in the Purple Eagles Invitational on Oct. 1 and 2. The invitational occurred at the Diamond Hawk Golf Course in Cheektowaga, New York. The Lady ‘Guins took first place and individually had three top-three finishers.
For head coach Nate Miklos, the ladies’ success away from home comes with preparation.
“Throughout the season when we travel, there’s a lot more time and thought spent during the practice round [on] how we need to approach each hole during the event. Our players do a phenomenal job. They know their games really well, and they’re really good at thinking through and preparing for whatever course we are at,” Miklos said.
Youngstown concluded with a score of 913 and won the tournament by 36 shots. In the first and second rounds, the team scored 306 and 305. The Penguins’ total of 913 is tied for the seventh-lowest, three-round performance in school history. The second place team was Siena College, with a three-round total of 949.
Freshman Neeranuch Prajunpanich claimed medalist honors for the first time in her career. After carding an opening round of 80, the freshman had second and third round scores of 70 and 71.
Her second round of 70 was two under-par and included four birdies. Additionally, Prajunpanich’s third round of 71 was one-under par and featured six birdies.
Senior Maddie Smithco finished second with a three-round total of 224. Her Sunday first and second-round scores, 73 and 77, had her in first place entering Monday’s final round. Smithco finished the tournament with a two-over par 74 including two birdies.
Junior Lizzie Saur finished third with a 299. Saur’s opening round 77 included three birdies and in Monday’s final round she was even with par through her first 13 holes. Her third round 76 included two birdies.
The men will continue their fall season Oct. 8 through 10 when they travel to Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. There, the Penguins will compete in the Bucknell Fall Invitational, hosted by Bucknell University.
After picking up its third victory, the lady ‘Guins will travel to Birmingham, Michigan. to compete in the Chippewa Invitational hosted by Central Michigan. The invitational will take place Oct. 16 and 17.
To watch the invitational, check out ESPN+. For stats, highlights and more, visit ysusports.com.