Essen led the University of Scranton men’s golf team to the team title at the DeSales Invitational, earning individual medalist honors in the process. He opened with a 75 (+3) to place himself among the leaders before surging in the final round. He fired a two-under par 70, highlighted by a spectacular hole-out eagle on the 14th hole, to finish with a 145 (+1) and secure the individual title by two strokes. Essen followed up that performance with an eighth-place finish at the Lebanon Valley Invitational, shooting a 78 (+6).