PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers men's golf's sophomore Bennett Espenshade entered the 2025 fall season with high expectations, earning a spot on the Big Ten Preseason Golfers to Watch list and solidifying his value to the program.
Espenshade has his sights set on proving himself as a consistent contributor both individually and in a team setting.
"I want to be consistently in that top half, that top 20, throwing in a few top 10s," Espenshade said. "I had one top 10 last spring, so I'm looking to have maybe two or three more this year and really build on the strong foundation from last year."
Espenshade was the number one golfer in the state of Maryland in high school and had a stellar freshman season last year for the Scarlet Knights. He had an impressive 73.77 tournament stroke average and was on the Dean's List during both the fall and spring semesters. Espenshade's top finish was 6th-place at the Princeton Invitational.
His best performance this season came at the Canadian Collegiate, where he carded a scorching second-round 67 (-5) on his way to a tie for 18th place. After opening with a 74, his ability to control the pace of his game led to one of the lowest rounds of the tournament.
That bounce-back effort was especially notable after a tough debut at the Gopher Invitational. Rather than dwell, Espenshade used the experience as fuel to sharpen his game and boost his confidence heading into Canada.
"It's important to rebound from an okay start, making sure I stick with the things I've been doing and put in the necessary work to get where I need to be," he said.
Espenshade's steady focus on improvement continues to earn praise across all areas of his game.
"I was really focused on fine-tuning my mechanics," he explained. "I got away with things last year that I wanted to fix this year, so preparing for the longer and tougher season will have me ready for each setup."
A native of Maryland, Espenshade once reached the No. 1 ranking on the Junior Golf Scoreboard in the state. He won the 2025 Maryland State Amateur Championship this summer. His love for the game started early.
"I first started playing golf when I was about three," he said. "My dad got me into it at the driving range. I saw it, and I kind of wanted to pick up the club. Ever since then, I just fell in love with it."
Team chemistry has been strong this season, though Espenshade admits his teammates might describe him with one word.
"Busy," he said with a laugh, explaining how he is always on the move. That relentless drive has shaped his work ethic and his long-term vision.
"I would want to turn pro right out of college, since that's been something I've always wanted and set my sights on."
After long days on the course, Espenshade keeps his downtime simple.
"Spending time with friends and relaxing on the couch helps," he said.
