Rutgers University
The Johnnie-O at Sea Island
Men's Golf Set to Host 4th-Annual Johnnie-O at Sea Island
Mar 05 | Men's Golf
The Rutgers men's golf team is set to host its fourth-annual Johnnie-O tournament at Sea Island Resort on St. Simons Island, Georgia, on Monday, March 9 and Tuesday, March 10.
Fifteen teams will participate in the event, including Big Ten Conference foes Nebraska, Minnesota and Penn State. Avid golf fans may recognize Sea Island as the home of the PGA Tour's RSM Classic, a FedEx Cup event. Set against a stunning ocean backdrop, the professional-caliber course will provide a formidable test for head coach Rob Shutte and the Scarlet Knights.
For Shutte, the event represents more than just another tournament on the schedule.
"It's a great brand to be associated with," Shutte said. "Johnny O is a strong brand in the golf space, and partnering with Sea Island — a world-class PGA Tour venue — is big for us. Anytime Rutgers can align with a great sponsor, a great course, and a strong field, it's a positive. We're excited to show off the golf course, test the field, and hopefully have a great week."
The Scarlet Knights have experience on their side. Last year, their senior captain Noah Kumar was the star of the tournament. Kumar finished seven under par to earn runner-up honors and was named Big Ten Conference Golfer of the Week following his outstanding performance. He vaulted into second place after a stellar five-under-par second round, recording par or better on 17 of 18 holes. Overall, Kumar posted 33 of 36 holes at or below par to secure his second runner-up finish of the season.
While Kumar has since graduated, his impact on the event remains notable on the current Scaarlet Knights. Sophomore Bennett Espenshade also brings positive experience at Sea Island after recording a top-50 finish as a freshman.
"Johnny O should be great for us," Espenshade said. "We're hosting, so we control the setup. We've all seen the course, and I think we're in a really good spot to play well next weekend."
Depth has been an important factor for Rutgers all season and will continue to be this week. Sophomore Argyle Downes became the fourth Scartet Knight to win Big Ten Golfer of Week honors this season earlier this spring, joining Luke Koenig, Lucas Politano and Jeffrey Zatorski. All will join Espenshade at the Scarlet Knight-hosted event next week.
"We've got guys at home who'll be at the Johnny O this week, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them come out and play really well," Shutte said. "It's a crowded locker room — in a good way — and that competition should help us these next couple events. We're excited to host this event for the fourth-consecutive year."
The Scarlet Knights tee off bright and early Monday morning, with play concluding Tuesday afternoon.
Players Mentioned
