Interview
CGN+ Player Highlight and Interview: Bennett Espenshade’s Continued Rise at Rutgers
Rutgers junior Bennett Espenshade has emerged as one of the Scarlet Knights’ leading performers during the 2026 to 2027 college golf season, recording four top 10 finishes in six fall tournaments.
The Baltimore, Maryland, native posted a 68.36 scoring average during the fall, improving from 71.40 as a sophomore and 73.10 as a freshman.
His collegiate progress follows a successful amateur career highlighted by the 2025 Maryland State Amateur Championship, an appearance at the 2025 U.S. Amateur and a top 10 finish at the 2026 Sunnehanna Amateur.
Career Highlights
- Won the 2025 Maryland State Amateur Championship
- Competed in the 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship
- Recorded four top 10 finishes during fall 2026
- Improved his scoring average from 73.10 as a freshman to 68.36 during fall 2026
- Finished tied for fourth at the New York Harbor Cup and Hamptons Intercollegiate
- Finished sixth at the Canadian Collegiate Invitational
- Finished tied for ninth at the Gopher Invitational
- Finished tied for ninth at the 2026 Big Ten Championships
- Finished eighth at the 2026 Sunnehanna Amateur
- Won the 117th Middle Atlantic Amateur Championship
- Won the 2024 K.J. Choi Foundation Junior Championship
- Earned Dean’s List honors during both semesters of his freshman and sophomore years
Collegiate Results Snapshot
2026 to 2027 Junior Season | Rutgers
Fall Performance
- Scoring average: 68.36
- Four top 10 finishes
- Six rounds in the 60s
- Twelve rounds below par
- Improved his scoring average by 3.04 strokes compared with his sophomore season
Tournament Results
- New York Harbor Cup: T4
- Canadian Collegiate Invitational: Sixth
- Gopher Invitational: T9
- Hamptons Intercollegiate: T4
- Quail Valley Collegiate Invitational: T22
- Steelwood Collegiate: T27
2025 to 2026 Sophomore Season | Rutgers
- Scoring average: 71.40
- Six rounds in the 60s
- Twelve rounds below par
- Steelwood Collegiate: T6
- Colleton River Collegiate: Ninth
- Big Ten Championships: T9
- Canadian Collegiate Invitational: T18
- Linger Longer Invitational: T19
- Hoosier Collegiate: T25
- Earned Dean’s List honors during both semesters
Summer 2026 Amateur Results
- New Jersey Amateur: Third
- Maryland Amateur: Fifth
- Delaware Amateur: Seventh
- Sunnehanna Amateur: Eighth
2024 to 2025 Freshman Season | Rutgers
- Scoring average: 73.10
- Four rounds in the 60s
- Eight rounds below par
- Princeton Invitational: T6
- Hootie Intercollegiate: T22
- Colleton River Collegiate: T26
- Won the 2025 Maryland State Amateur Championship
- Competed in the 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship
- Finished 10th at the 2025 Maryland Open
- Earned Dean’s List honors during both semesters
Bennett Espenshade Interview Highlights with CGN+
Early introduction to golf
Espenshade began playing golf around age three and spent much of his childhood practicing with his father.
He started competing in junior tournaments around age eight while also playing soccer and baseball.
During his interview, Espenshade explained that participating in multiple sports helped develop his competitiveness and coordination.
Overcoming junior golf challenges
Espenshade experienced several successful periods during his junior career, including victories at the Middle Atlantic Amateur and K.J. Choi Foundation Junior Championship.
However, he also struggled with his swing and the pressure of securing a college commitment.
He explained that shifting his attention away from tournament results and toward his personal development helped him regain confidence during the recruiting process.
Adjusting to Rutgers
Espenshade entered college with confidence but quickly discovered that several aspects of his game needed improvement.
He identified driving, ball flight and putting as areas that limited his performance during his freshman season.
To address those weaknesses, he increased his strength and changed his preferred ball flight from a draw to a cut.
Those adjustments helped him improve throughout his freshman year.
Maryland State Amateur breakthrough
Following his freshman season, Espenshade continued working on his game during the summer of 2025.
He won the Maryland State Amateur Championship at his home course and competed in the U.S. Amateur Championship.
During the interview, Espenshade explained that those accomplishments strengthened his confidence in the changes he had made.
Sophomore season improvement
Espenshade lowered his scoring average to 71.40 during the 2025 to 2026 season.
He recorded top 10 finishes at the Steelwood Collegiate, Colleton River Collegiate and Big Ten Championships.
His summer 2026 amateur results included third at the New Jersey Amateur and eighth at the Sunnehanna Amateur.
Fall 2026 success
Espenshade opened his junior season with four consecutive top 10 finishes, including two tied for fourth performances.
He finished the fall with a 68.36 scoring average, improving by 4.74 strokes compared with his freshman season.
During the interview, Espenshade credited his driving and putting for his improved results.
He reported hitting fairways at nearly an 80 percent rate while making significant progress with his putting.
Continuing to improve
Despite his strong fall season, Espenshade identified wedge play as an area he wants to strengthen.
He believes improving his wedge performance could help him turn top 10 finishes into individual tournament victories.
He plans to focus on that part of his game before returning to competition in the spring.
Family support and academics
Espenshade credited his parents, Peter and Christine, with encouraging his work ethic and supporting him throughout his golf career.
He explained that their support helped him maintain perspective during difficult periods.
At Rutgers, he has earned Dean’s List honors during both semesters of his freshman and sophomore years.
Professional aspirations
Espenshade plans to complete four years at Rutgers before deciding when to pursue professional golf.
He identified playing professionally as his long term goal but remains focused on continuing his development at Rutgers.
His immediate priorities include improving his wedge play and pursuing his first collegiate individual title.
