Men's Golf Opens '24-'25 Sunday at Gopher Invitational Final. Kumar 2nd, Rutgers 5th.

[knightfan7]

Once again RU opens their season at Minnesota. The field will have a strong B1G/B12 feel with 7 of 15 teams representing the conferences. Along with RU and Minny, Iowa and Nebraska are entered. WVU, Baylor, and Iowa State represent the B12.

This year's team will be a mix of the old and new. 4 players, who combined for around 150 starts at RU, have finished their careers. In their place will be 1 Grad, 1 Senior, 2 Sophmores, and 5 Freshmen.

Starters have not been announced but I imagine 3 year starter, Senior Weston Jones (Mass), will be there along with Grad Noah Kumar (Fla), who returns after sitting out last season. Kumar had a good '23 Spring season after 2 years at DII Florida Southern where they made the NCAA's his Soph year.

Joining them will be 2024 NJ Open Champ, Soph Derek Gutierrez (Cranford), and Soph Andrew Reyes (Tx).

The Freshman include....

Argyle Downes - Ranked #1 HS Golfer in WV. 2 Time WVGA Boys Player of the Year
Bennett Espenshade - Ranked #1 HS Golfer in MD. Also highest ranked recruit at #39 by 1 service.
Ryder Hodgson - (Montclair and Bergen Cath) 2023 NJ PGA Jr Champion. Played Lacrosse before deciding to concentrate on golf.
Max Jackson - Ranked #1 HS Golfer in RI. 2 Time state HS champ and 3 time state Jr Am Champ.
Tommy Murdough - Mass All State and 2022 US Challenge Cup Champ.

Last season after being ranked as high as #72 RU finished ranked #91 out of 306 D1 Teams and 8th in the B1G. If you add the 4 new members, RU would have been ranked 11th out of 18.

Rutgers has been ranked #1 in the Northeast 3 of the last 4 years but will be pushed by Princeton who had the #15 recruiting class by 1 service.

 

[richthedentist]

Once again RU opens their season at Minnesota. The field will have a strong B1G/B12 feel with 7 of 15 teams representing the conferences. Along with RU and Minny, Iowa and Nebraska are entered. WVU, Baylor, and Iowa State represent the B12.

This year's team will be a mix of the old and new. 4 players, who combined for around 150 starts at RU, have finished their careers. In their place will be 1 Grad, 1 Senior, 2 Sophmores, and 5 Freshmen.

Starters have not been announced but I imagine 3 year starter, Senior Weston Jones (Mass), will be there along with Grad Noah Kumar (Fla), who returns after sitting out last season. Kumar had a good '23 Spring season after 2 years at DII Florida Southern where they made the NCAA's his Soph year.

Joining them will be 2024 NJ Open Champ, Soph Derek Gutierrez (Cranford), and Soph Andrew Reyes (Tx).

The Freshman include....

Argyle Downes - Ranked #1 HS Golfer in WV. 2 Time WVGA Boys Player of the Year
Bennett Espenshade - Ranked #1 HS Golfer in MD. Also highest ranked recruit at #39 by 1 service.
Ryder Hodgson - (Montclair and Bergen Cath) 2023 NJ PGA Jr Champion. Played Lacrosse before deciding to concentrate on golf.
Max Jackson - Ranked #1 HS Golfer in RI. 2 Time state HS champ and 3 time state Jr Am Champ.
Tommy Murdough - Mass All State and 2022 US Challenge Cup Champ.

Last season after being ranked as high as #72 RU finished ranked #91 out of 306 D1 Teams and 8th in the B1G. If you add the 4 new members, RU would have been ranked 11th out of 18.

Rutgers has been ranked #1 in the Northeast 3 of the last 4 years but will be pushed by Princeton who had the #15 recruiting class by 1 service.

What was out recruiting class ranked?

 

[knightfan7]

What was out recruiting class ranked?

The 2 rankings I found Rich only went to #25. Info I was able to find were mostly from SK.com, with some from local newspapers, and sites like AJGA and Junior Golf Scorecard.

I just figured I'd just put the hilites all in one post rather than post sites.

I'll add that the new 4 make the B1G Men stronger but make the Women perhaps the best conference in the country. 3 of the '24 Final 4 along with Northwestern. Wow.

 

[richthedentist]

The 2 rankings I found Rich only went to #25. Info I was able to find were mostly from SK.com, with some from local newspapers, and sites like AJGA and Junior Golf Scorecard.

I just figured I'd just put the hilites all in one post rather than post sites.

I'll add that the new 4 make the B1G Men stronger but make the Women perhaps the best conference in the country. 3 of the '24 Final 4 along with Northwestern. Wow.

I know the coach at Bergen so I know about Ryder; the other kids all ranked #1 in their respective states so lets hope; its such a difference in quality of golf from my day at Rutgers to now, we had a coach but he wasn't a golf coach was one of Grunninger's crony hires!!

 

[knightfan7]

The last RU golfer I know of who gave up Lacrosse in HS to concentrate on golf was Chris Gotterup.

Hmmmmmmmm😄

 

[knightfan7]

Rutgers Lineup

1. Noah Kumar leads off at the #1 slot
2. Weston Jones
3. Derek Gutierrez
and 2 Frosh
4. Argyle Downes
5. Bennett Espenshade

Don't know if there'll be anyone playing as an individual

 

[knightfan7]

After the first of two rounds today, Rutgers (+9) finds itself in 8th place out of 15, 7 strokes behind leader Kent State who was +2 on the 7500 yard Par 71 Windsong Farm course. Iowa (+3) was 2nd, followed by host Minnesota (+4). and Nebraska (+5).

Rutgers Team Scores (4 best rounds count for team score)

Noah Kumar 69 (-2)
Weston Jones 71 (E)
Argyle Downes 74 (+3)
Bennett Espenshade 79 (+8)
Derek Gutierrez 79 (+8)

Last month's USAM runnerup, Iowa's Noah Kent, lead after a 3 Under 68. RU's Noah....Kumar was among 4 players 1 stroke back.

The 2nd round is under way.

 

[knightfan7]

After a long delay the 2nd Round scores are finally posted. Rutgers shot 5 strokes better than in the morning, They still dropped 1 spot to 6th due to a number of teams shooting better. Rutgers was led by Frosh Bennett Espenshade's 2 Under 69 (6 Birdies but 2 Doubles). He was followed by Noah Kumar and Weston Jones shooting 1 Over 72's. Derek Gutierrez shot a 3 Over 74, and Argyle Downs an 8 over 79.

Rutgers Scores (292-287)

T7 - Noah Kumar 69-72 (-1)
T15 - Weston Jones 71-72 (+1)
T30 - Bennett Espenshade 78-69 (+5)
T59 - Argyle Downs 74-79 (+11}
T59 - Derek Gutierrez 79-74 (+11)

Top 7 Teams

1. Iowa.....................+3
2. Minnesota........+4
3. Kent State........+7
4. Nebraska...........+9
5. Marquette.........+10
6. RUTGERS..........+11
7. Iowa State..........+13

Not posted yet but in tomorrow's Final Round. Rutgers should be paired with the 2 teams directly in front of them, Nebraska and Marquette.

 

[knightfan7]

Rutgers' Noah Kumar shot a 68, his 2nd Under Par round of the tournament today, ending 4 Under for tourney. Unfortunately he Bogeyed his last hole of the day and missed tying for First by 1 stroke. He was 1 of only 6 out of 81 to finish Under Par for the 3 Rounds. He led RU to a 5th Place finish despite no one else having a greatest day. RU did play 2 Frosh so they now have an idea what college golf is about.

Props to whoever here said to watch out for Kumar this season. He sure had a nice start

Rutgers 292-287-289

2. Noah Kumar 69-72-68 (-4)
T32. Bennett Espenshade 78-69-74 (+8)
T38. Weston Jones 71-72-80 (+10)
T57. Derek Gutierrez 79-74-74 (+14)
T57. Argyle Down 74-79-74 (+14)

Top 8 Teams

1. Iowa State...................+8
2. Minnesota..................+10
3. Nebraska....................+13
4. Iowa..............................+16
5. RUTGERS...................+17
6. Marquette..................+18
7. Kent St.........................+20
8. Furman........................+22

Followed in order by New Mexico, Baylor, UNCW, West Virginia, St Thomas (MN), Georgia Southern, and Northern Illinois.

Next RU will make history of sorts, participating the 1st ever NCAA sanctioned Men's event in Canada. There will be 9 US Squads and 1 home school participating. All US teams were picked because their Golf programs have some connection to the Great White North. For example, PSU and Wash St are coached by Canadians. Kent St has 2 Canadian players including James Newton who started his college career at RU before transferring. Rutgers connection as far as I know is former 3 year captain ('21-'22 thru 23-24), Xavier Marcoux, is a Canadian citizen and there are 2 Canadians on the Women's team. Along with RU, PSU, WSU, and KSU, teams also entered are ND, MSU, Michigan, Maryland, and Missouri.

For old SCTV fans, I imagine the 1 Canadian team falls under the Canadian content law.

 

[Tango Two]

Men's Golf Finishes 5th at Gopher Invitational Behind Kumar's 2nd-Place Finish​

Men's Golf Finishes 5th at Gopher Invitational Behind Kumar's 2nd-Place Finish - Rutgers University Athletics

The Rutgers men's golf team has started the season strong, finishing fifth at the Gopher Invitational in Minnesota, with standout performances and promising prospects

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