Story courtesy of Toledo's Athletic Communications Department

TOLEDO, Ohio - Bence Bertenyi has been grinding this summer. The Budapest, Hungary native has competed in a tournament every week since returning to Europe following a disappointing finish to his sophomore season at the University of Toledo.

"I felt like I needed to work harder and be more disciplined on the course too but especially with my practice," said Bertenyi, a Second-Team All-MAC honoree who shot two rounds over 80 at the Mid-American Conference Championships in the first week of May. "Sometimes I found myself trying to grasp the easier way of things and in the long run that isn't going to lead to success. Even after a great start to the summer, I had a couple events where things didn't go my way, but I had to keep my head down and keep working."

Head Coach Jeff Roope said Bertenyi was really down at the end of the Rockets' spring season and needed to re-focus.

"Bence was disappointed with how the season ended, but great players respond to adversity, and that's exactly what he did," the Rockets' head coach said. "He committed himself to improving, embraced a challenging summer schedule, and continued to believe in himself."

Bertenyi went home and has traveled to Denmark, England, Finland, Ireland, and Scotland. He even has had the opportunity to play at the legendary St. Andrews, the home of golf, as well as Royal Portrush. He tied for 15^th place at the North of Ireland in his first event in May and then finished third a week later with a 9-under-par 275 at the Brabazon Trophy event in England. What followed were missed cuts at the Scottish Men's Open, the St. Andrews Links and the British Amateur before playing three rounds at the European Amateur.

All that hard work paid off last week when he ran away with the Danish Amateur by shooting an impressive 14-under-par 274 (66-70-67-71). Bertenyi tallied 19 birdies in the tournament and posted a par score or better on 67 of 72 holes. 

"My driving and approach play were exceptional at the Danish Amateur despite the tough conditions," Bertenyi said. "My putter and short game were also there to bail me out if needed. One could say it was a near-perfect week of golf. I think a big key was my self-belief after having a few tournaments where things didn't exactly go to plan. I had to find it in me to believe in myself and my potential to be great."

"Bence's win at the Danish Amateur is a reward for the hard work he's put in," Roope said. "It's exciting to see him gain confidence as he grows into a leadership role for our team."

When Bertenyi returns to Northwest Ohio in August, he will be the lone returning upperclassman on a team that will have six newcomers.

"I am very excited for the fall season and my success this summer has given me even more confidence than I already had," Bertenyi said. "I want to be a player who Coach Roope can always count on to lead the team forward. Not just with my on-course play but at practice, workouts and all around with the team."

Roope said that it's comforting to know that he will have an individual of Bertenyi's caliber to help the new faces on his 2026-27 squad with a lending hand.

"Culture is everything for a team like ours," Roope said. "We spend so much time together throughout the year, and college golf presents unique challenges because not everyone travels or competes every week. It takes strong leadership to keep the group united and focused on a common goal. Bence has grown tremendously in that area and is someone our new players can learn from every day. He understands our standards, he cares about his teammates, and he's capable of helping set the tone for the future of our program."

Bertenyi added, "I feel like I have a sense of responsibility towards my team. I have to be the person to set the example. Course play and results are one thing, but mentality and the way we approach our everyday activities is an essential part of our preparation. In my opinion, this is where we can improve this year and I will be trying to set the best example possible for this team to move forward."