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PISCATAWAY, N.J. – With a mix of fresh faces and proven talent, the 2025-26 Rutgers men’s golf team is primed to open the season at the Gopher Invitational. Head coach Rob Shutte returns for his 13th season at the helm and sees promise in a group that blends experience with exciting newcomers.
Rutgers welcomes five new additions to its nine-man roster this fall – two veteran transfers and three highly regarded freshmen. With added depth and competition throughout the lineup, the Scarlet Knights look to take another step forward in the Big Ten.
“With the addition of five new faces out of the nine, it’s been fun to see the relationships grow rooted in the game of golf,” Shutte said. “They have been extremely coachable, and I see potential over the long journey of the season, always focusing on trying to make them better.”
After gaining valuable experience as a freshman, Argyle Downes enters his second year with a stronger, more complete game. Downes posted a 74.16 stroke average across nine tournaments in his debut season, highlighted by two top-20 finishes including a tie for 14th at the Princeton Invitational. His offseason focus has been sharpening his scoring clubs.
“I’ve been working on a lot of putting, a lot of wedges, trying to clean up the scoring aspect of the game, as well as capitalizing on those moments and really getting the rounds going,” Downes said.
Derek Gutierrez enters his junior year with significant momentum after being ranked the No. 1 golfer in New Jersey by Junior Golf Scoreboard. Last season, he gained key Big Ten experience while showing flashes of high-end potential. Rutgers expects him to be a steady leader in 2025-26.
“I’ve just been staying true to myself, going out on the golf course and having fun, laughing and just enjoying the experience I get to have with all my close friends traveling to all these places,” Gutierrez said. “Being efficient with my time and not really feeding balls for six or seven hours, and working on my mental game while staying patient and mindful.”
A highly anticipated sophomore, Bennett Espenshade returns as one of the Scarlet Knights’ most consistent performers. He played in all 12 events as a freshman, posting multiple top-20 finishes, including at the Gopher Invitational. Espenshade’s reliability and steady play will once again be central to the team’s success.
“We have a really talented squad,” Espenshade said. “We’re bringing in a lot of firepower, and I think our returners got a lot better over the summer. I’m really excited to see what we’ll do.”
Harry Cohen, one of the Scarlet Knights’ three freshmen, enters with strong junior golf credentials and the tools to make an immediate impact. Ranked among the top 100 juniors nationally, Cohen earned multiple AJGA top-10 finishes before arriving at Rutgers.
“I like to just break it down day-by-day and just focus on getting a little bit better,” Cohen said. “The team is really good, so I have high expectations. Working hard into trying to get better is our main priority.”
Max Jackson adds depth to the Scarlet Knights’ roster as a sophomore. He competed in five events last season and showed poise under pressure, highlighted by a season-best round of 74 at the Irish Creek Intercollegiate. Jackson’s maturity and focus give him the chance to become a lineup regular.
“I hope to become a staple in the lineup and make a difference on the team,” Jackson said. “We’re really young and there’s a lot of drive and motivation when you’re that young since we’re all playing for spots. It’s going to be really competitive, and being young we have a lot of time and years to grow.”
Senior transfer Luke Koenig brings valuable collegiate experience to the Scarlet Knights after competing at UNC Charlotte, a program consistently ranked among the nation’s best. His leadership and maturity add stability to the young roster.
“All the guys have been super welcoming and we’ve meshed really well together so far,” Koenig said. “I think we have a lot of the same goals for this fall to find out where we’re starting and build momentum for the spring into the entire season while having good results along the way.”
First-year standout Daniel Regal-Martinez arrives with an international résumé, representing Spain in elite junior competition and earning top finishes across the European junior circuit. His combination of length and scoring ability makes him a potential difference-maker.
“We put a lot of emphasis into getting to the top 25 in the nation, so that’s huge for us,” Martinez said. “I’ve worked the most on my driving game, a fair share of distance, and that has been healthy, especially at the golf courses here in America.”
Freshman Lucas Politano, a top-25 junior golfer from Florida, joins Rutgers with both energy and power off the tee. Known for his short game touch as well, Politano has the versatility to develop quickly into a key contributor.
“I did a lot of stuff to prepare for this year, like maximizing my distance off the tee and controlling yardages with wedges,” Politano said. “I think having the ability to hit the ball past other people brings out a real advantage too.”
Junior Jeffrey Zatorski rounds out the roster, providing mental toughness and a steady presence. He competed in four events last year, highlighted by a tie for 30th at the Marquette Intercollegiate, and continues to improve his consistency.
“I’m more of a short-term goal setter and I want to keep every day the same and very consistent,” Zatorski said. “Doing things I can control like waking up early, getting schoolwork done, keeping myself accountable—in the long term, I can do the best to support the team.”
Fall 2025 Schedule
Sept. 7–8: Gopher Invitational (Minneapolis, Minn.)
Sept. 14–16: Canadian Collegiate (Muskoka, Ontario)
Oct. 5–7: Marquette Intercollegiate (Milwaukee, Wis.)
Oct. 19–20: Quail Valley Collegiate Invitational (Vero Beach, Fla.)
Oct. 25–26: Steelwood Collegiate Invitational (Loxley, Ala.)
“It’s different for each guy, but the development makes for bigger, faster, stronger, and the best exposure we can give against the best competition ahead,” Shutte said.
With new energy and a challenging slate, Rutgers men’s golf is ready to make its mark on the 2025-26 season.
