\n
\n Story Links
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Howey-In-The-Hills, Fla. — Senior Ryan Sam<\/a> sits third on the individual leaderboard following a first-round 69 while the Youngstown State men’s golf team is in fifth after Saturday’s opening round of the 2026 Men’s Golf Championship at Mission Resort + Club.<\/p>\n Sam, YSU’s lone senior and native of Canfield, Ohio, led his squad with a three-under-par round of 69 in Saturday’s opening round at Mission Resort + Club’s El Campeon Course. The senior’s opening session at his fourth and final Horizon League Championship featured nine pars and six birdies as he fired a two-under-par 33 on the front nine after starting his round with a one-under-par 36 on the back nine.<\/p>\n Sam is three shots back of first-round leader Nick Holder of Purdue Fort Wayne, who turned in a career-low round of 66 on Saturday to seize the individual lead. Mason Haupt of Green Bay is in second place after carding a four-under-par score of 68 in the tournament’s opening round.<\/p>\n Youngstown State is fifth on the team leaderboard after posting a single-round score of 294 (+6) on Saturday. Purdue Fort Wayne holds the first-round advantage after recording a 285 (-3) while Green Bay is just a stroke back in second place after a 286 (-2). Top-seeded Wright State is currently third following a first-round 287 (-1) while Oakland is fourth after posting a 289 (+1).<\/p>\n Detroit Mercy and Cleveland State each carded a 295 to sit just a shot back of YSU in a tie for sixth place, IU Indy (300) is eighth, Northern Kentucky (301) is positioned ninth and Robert Morris (308) rounds out the team field in 10th.<\/p>\n A trio of Penguins turned in a first-round score of 75 in Saturday’s opening round in the Sunshine state. Michael Porter<\/a>, Jake Ryan<\/a> and Nolan Shilling<\/a> are each tied for 27th on the individual leaderboard.<\/p>\n Porter’s opening round on El Campeon included 11 pars and a pair of birdies coming at No. 1 and No. 4.<\/p>\n Ryan carded 13 pars and a birdie at the par-four No. 6 in his first round in Florida. The junior shot an even-par score of 37 with a stretch of nine straight pars on the back nine after beginning his round on No. 10.<\/p>\n Shilling’s opening session featured 10 pars and four birdies as he tallied an even-par 37 on the back nine.<\/p>\n