Rutgers men’s golf rising junior Bennett Espenshade put together a standout week at Baltusrol Golf Club, finishing solo third at the 125th New Jersey Amateur Championship presented by Provident Bank from July 6-8 in Springfield, N.J.
Espenshade closed at 2-under-par 282, posting rounds of 69-68-72-73. In a field loaded with the deepest amateur talent in the Garden State, he was one of only three players to finish under par and the top collegiate finisher in the championship.
The setting matched the moment. Baltusrol, a National Historic Landmark and longtime host of 18 major championships, staged the event across its Lower and Upper Courses. The championship trimmed the field to the low 40 and ties after 36 holes before a 36-hole final day decided the winner.
Espenshade made his move right away. In wet opening-round conditions Monday on the 7,010-yard Lower Course, he opened with a 1-under 69, the only under-par round of the day aside from the leader’s, and sat solo second. After getting to 2-over early, he finished his last nine holes in 2-under 32 to climb the board.
"I drove it great and I putted pretty well," Espenshade told NJ Golf following the opening round.
He kept the pressure on Tuesday with a 2-under 68, the best round among the chasers, and went into the final day at 3-under. A pair of rounds in Wednesday’s 36-hole finale - 72 and 73 - locked in third place, three shots ahead of fourth.
Barnes Blake of Baltusrol Golf Club defended his title with a 12-under 272, winning by seven over runner-up Troy Vannucci, who finished at 5-under 279. Espenshade’s 2-under total secured the final spot on the podium.
The result adds to Espenshade’s upward run. He played in the 2025 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship and has become a key piece in head coach Rob Shutte’s lineup heading into the 2026-27 season.
Rutgers men’s golf returns to competition this fall.
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