YSU men’s golf off to hot start
By Greg Gulas
YOUNGSTOWN
The Youngstown State men’s golf team is off to its best start since moving to Division I. The Penguins look to continue that momentum Monday and Tuesday in the Cleveland State Invitational at Aurora’s Barrington Country Club.
If the fall schedule is any indication of their ability, then the spring portion cannot come soon enough for head coach Tony Joy, last year’s Horizon League coach of the year, who is in his 31st season.
“Winning the first two events this fall has been pretty exciting, not only because it’s our best start since going to an all-Division I schedule but because this is a team that truly cares about one another,” Joy said. “Our win at the Marshall Invitational was special because it was such a strong field, boasting teams from the Big South, Mid-American Conference, Ohio Valley Conference, University of Cincinnati and Horizon League foes CSU and Wright State University.”
The Penguins are led by Bryan Yeo, the only senior and captain of the squad who placed fifth in their opening match at Whistling Straits Intercollegiate in Chicago.
YSU easily outdistanced six other teams in the field.
“We know that we have the makings of a good team, yet still have to go out and prove it every time we play. So far we’ve done just that,” said Yeo, a College Coaches Association Academic All-American last season. “We’re a confident group and I’d just like to think that I lead by example. With four juniors also on the team we’re a veteran group so our game plan is to always have three or four shoot really well in the tourneys that we play.”
Joy called Yeo — the Penguins’ leading scorer the last two seasons — a great team leader.
“He knows exactly what it takes in order to be successful,” Joy said. “When one of his teammates is having a bad round, he knows just how to pick him up.”
In addition to Yeo, juniors Brandon Pluchinsky, Bill Gaffney and Denny Holub will have plenty to say as to whether the team gets back to the Horizon League championship in the spring.
“In our victory at Whistling Straits, Brandon finished second overall and we also had a super effort from redshirt freshman Justin Hallapy,” Joy said. “Brandon, who also finished sixth at Marshall, is a grinder and our most consistent player the past two seasons. He understands pressure and that comes directly from his high school basketball days. He never gives up and seeks perfection every time he steps onto the course.”
Pluchinsky, along with Holub and Gaffney, have the capability of joining Yeo as CCA Academic All-Americans this year.
To qualify for Academic All-American status you need to have earned a 3.2 grade point average, post a 76 scoring average or better and play in 60 percent of your team’s matches over the past three seasons.
“Last year we had a shaky start to our season so it has been fun to ride this start. The key has been teamwork,” said Pluchinsky, a South Range High graduate. “We push each other in practice and when one is down, the other is right there to pick him up. It’s really nice to have such a deep team.”
Gaffney’s best finish this fall was second-place at the 15-team Marshall Invitational with Holub right behind, finishing in a tie for third.
Playing together since their freshman year has helped, according to Gaffney while Holub notes that chemistry has also played a big part in their success thus far.
“We’re really one big happy family, joking with each other but serious when we need to be. We hang out together and play for each other,” Gaffney said.
Holub, who hails from Reminderville — just outside Twinsburg — will get the opportunity to play in front of familiar faces on a familiar course at the CSU Invitational.
“We have each other’s backs so when one falters, the other is right there to pick him up. It’s going to be fun playing in front of family and friends and especially in an environment that I am quite familiar with,” Holub said.
While Gaffney tied for third at the New York State Amateur and played well over the summer, Holub, a walk-on three years ago, qualified for the U.S. Public Links this past summer as well.
Steven Sveda, a second-year player, opted for a redshirt year in order to transition from chemical to mechanical engineering, knowing that switching majors would still keep him around for five years. He wanted to be a part of the team those fourth and fifth years.
Rounding out this year’s squad are four locals — sophomore Thomas Lydic of Champion and true freshmen Dominic Carano of Canfield, Jason McQuown of Poland and Evan Standohar of Girard.