Boys Golf All-Stars 2023: Meet the best from Northeast Ohio

The great state of Ohio has a long and proud history on the golfing greens: Jack Nicklaus, the Golden Bear himself, calls the Buckeye State home, born just north of Columbus, while famed golfing architect Donald Ross designed more than two dozen courses in the state. As such, it’s no surprise that Ohio is one of the top factories of young golfing talents in the United States, pumping out collegiate prospects — and future professionals — at a high rate. 

As we inch closer to the winter months, there’s a lot of downtime to kill for die hard fans of the sport. One good way to tide yourself over is by acquainting yourself with the stars of the future, keeping an eye on collegiate recruiting cycles in the run up to the spring season. Here’s a primer on some of the top young talents in the country, both in high school and college, who hail from the northeastern part of the Buckeye State. 

Collegiate Golfing Prospects in the Buckeye State

The 2023 high school golfing season is just about wrapped up in the state of Ohio, with the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s Boys Division I State Golf Championship taking place in mid October. 

We got to see a number of collegiate prospects take the field in that competition. Jack Vojtko of Akron Archbishop Hoban is a verbal commit to Ohio State University; Bradley Chill of Cleveland St. Ignatius is set to attend Indiana University in the fall, while his current teammate, Julian Dugan, will also head to the Hoosier state… but he’ll be playing for the Purdue Boilermakers. 

Jordan Kish of Massillon Jackson High School announced earlier today that he’s signed his National Letter of Intent. With that comes the announcement that he will be staying right here in Northeastern Ohio, given his commitment to the Youngstown State Penguins. 

Other collegiate prospects include Myles Murphy, Sutto’s teammate, who will start his collegiate career at the Division 2 level with the University of Findlay on the other side of the state.

It’s important to keep in mind that these are just a few prospects in one region of Ohio for next year’s class of incoming freshmen: with that level of collegiate talent on the board, it’s no surprise that the Buckeye state is one of the nation’s best at producing talent. 

Here’s a look at how they fare in college.

Division 1 Golf in Ohio

In the realm of Division 1 Golf in Ohio, a nod to the Ohio State Buckeyes is essential, even if they aren't strictly confined to the Buckeye State's northeastern corridor. The Buckeyes have consistently stood as a golfing powerhouse, mirroring their dominance in various collegiate sports, and the 2023 golfing season showcased their enduring prowess.

Securing their spot in the D1 tournament after a stellar performance in the Auburn Regional tournament, the Buckeyes ventured into the national stage with a chance at etching their names in immortality. While the ultimate national title eluded them this time, the Buckeyes emerge as formidable contenders for the upcoming season. Their roster is laden with returning talent, including seasoned seniors, fifth-year players, and graduates, ensuring that they remain a force to be reckoned with on the golf course.

For those eager to elevate their golf betting experience, especially when wagering on the Buckeyes or any other team, league, or sport, utilizing an ESPN Bet Ohio Promo Code is a strategic move. This code ensures that you're not just adding excitement to the game but also locking in the best possible odds for a chance to win big. As the Buckeyes tee off and the golfing season unfolds, seize the opportunity with ESPN Bet Ohio Promo Code in hand, and place your bets with the confidence of knowing you've optimized your chances for a winning experience.

The Best of the Rest: Youngstown State

While golf is a fall sport in Ohio high school athletics, much of the rest of the world doesn’t see it the same way, whether it’s the Masters Tournament in April or the NCAA season in spring. As such, you’ll have plenty of time to get up to speed on the state of golf here in Ohio.

Elsewhere in the Buckeye state we have a pair of Division 1 teams for you to keep an eye on: the Akron Zips and the Youngstown State Penguins. I’ve already touched on Youngstown State, as the aforementioned Jordan Kish has a chance to become a hometown hero playing for the Penguins less than an hour away from where he went to high school.

It’ll be interesting to see if Kish decides to enroll early given the long layover between the high school and collegiate seasons. If not, it would be nearly 18 months before we see him in live action again at the start of 2025.