Ryan Sam finally clinched his first Stark County Amateur Golf Championship title on July 19, delivering a stellar 3-under par performance at Ohio Prestwick Country Club. This wasn’t just another tournament for Sam, who brought home the hardware after years of knocking on the door. He went into the final round with the lead, and held it tight, sealing the deal with rounds of 70 and 71.
Years of Grinding Paid Off
This win wasn’t some fluke. Sam had been chipping away at the Stark Amateur for a while, making this his third time playing the event. He was right there in 2024, tying for third, just three shots back from winner Kyle Buzaki. Then last year, he pushed even harder, finishing as the runner-up to Kyle Smith in the championship division. You can feel what this means to him. He told the Canton Repository, “It means a lot. I always like coming to play this tournament. Most of the (Youngstown State) team comes out to play. We always have a good time playing.” He even shouted out the course, “I really like this golf course. I’ve played well here in the past. Getting it done today, it kind of feels like it was supposed to happen. I’m glad I got it done.” That’s the voice of a man who earned it.
Holding His Nerve Through The Pressure
Sam started the final round with a dominant four-shot lead after a 3-under 70 in the first round. But golf always finds a way to test you, right? He stumbled a bit early with a couple of bogeys that put that lead in jeopardy. “I did not get off to a good start,” Sam admitted. “I really only hit like one green in my first five but I scrambled really well, and the putter was pretty hot early just to save some pars with some 10 or 12 footers.” True grit showed when he bounced back with crucial birdies on 6 and 8, telling himself, “I kind of realized I just had to control what I could control going forward.” He played in a threesome with Shaun Kloetzer, who definitely brought the heat, getting within one shot at the 13th tee box after three straight birdies. Talk about pressure! Sam’s mentality was locked in, “I just tried to remind myself that I have to worry about what I’m doing and not really what anyone else is doing. I just had to stay in my own little bubble.” Lucas Liberatore finished second at 1-over, while Joshua Clay and Shaun Kloetzer tied for third at 3-over. Brian Myers and Dillon Pendergast rounded out the top five at 4-over.
From College Iron Man To Pro Dreams
This guy’s no stranger to the grind. Sam was an “ironman” during his four seasons at Youngstown State, ranking fifth on their all-time list with 122 career rounds over 43 tournaments, even earning second team All-Horizon League as a senior. His former Youngstown State teammates, including Jordan Kish, rallied around him for the finish, showing that tight-knit bond he talked about. “All the boys are out here supporting each other,” he said. “We’re definitely a tight-knit group. I think that’s what makes our team special.” Now, the collegiate chapter might be closed, but Sam is far from done with golf. He’s got his sights set on bigger things. “I’m definitely going to pursue golf further than the collegiate level,” he declared. “I’m going to follow my dream, follow my passion and not regret anything down the road.” This Stark County Amateur title is just the beginning for Ryan Sam, and you know he’s going to keep pushing for that dream.
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