SPOILS OF VICTORY: Members of the Princeton High boys’ golf team display the plaque and medals they earned for winning the Central Group 4 sectional at Charleston Springs in Millstone last month. Sophomore Adam MacMillan led the way for PHS, carding a two-over 74 to take third individually at the competition. The team’s lineup at the sectional also included Harry Skopas, Atticus Lynch, Abhi Vachani, and Jonathan Lin. MacMillan went on to compete individually at the Tournament of Champions at the Hopewell Valley Golf Club where he tied for 51st with an 11-over 83.

By Bill Alden

Even though the Princeton High boys’ golf team finished seventh in the Mercer County Tournament in early May, Sheryl Severance saw that performance as a harbinger of good things to come in state competition.

“The county tournament is tough, you have the private schools like Pennington and Peddie,” said PHS head coach Severance.

“If it was just the public schools, we were right in there; WW/P-North and Allentown only beat us by a couple of strokes

Competing in the South/Central Group 4 sectional at Charleston Springs in Millstone on May 14, PHS displayed its toughness, placing fourth overall and first among Central teams to earn the sectional title.

The triumph caught Severance by surprise as she was initially focusing on the exploits of PHS sophomore star Adam MacMillan, who carded a two-over 74 to take third individually at the competition.

“I didn’t even know we won Central because we were so excited about Adam,” recalled Severance.

“The scores were coming in and we didn’t know if he was low and then a couple of lower scores came in and we knew he was going to be in that top group. Atticus [Lynch] comes in and says we won Central Jersey sectional and I was like what!”

MacMillan has come on very strong for the Tigers. “Adam is a very smart player; he thinks about his shot,” said Severance of MacMillan, who went on to compete individually at the Tournament of Champions at the Hopewell Valley Golf Club where he tied for 51st with an 11-over 83.

“He does the right thing. He has a very well-rounded game. His putting is good, his driver is good. Golf is his thing.”

Senior stalwarts Harry Skopas and Lynch brought their A-games to the sectional with Skopas tying for 15th with an 80 and Lynch tying for 19th with an 81.

“They were very excited, they both played well,” said Severance, who had senior Abhi Vachani shoot an 83 and junior Jonathan Lin card a 94 at the competition. “They both played their game; they are both very good players.”

While disappointed to not advance to the team phase of the Tournament of Champions by virtue of not finishing in the top three at the South/Central competition, winning the sectional title was still special for the Tigers.

“It was really big for the team,” said Severance. “We are there for each other and everybody was excited. It was good for our morale.”

A combination of hard work and camaraderie helped pave the way to the triumph.

“They are all very dedicated,” said Severance. “We get together and it is a team. It is an individual sport but we play as a team.”

With MacMillan returning at the top of the lineup, PHS should be a formidable team going forward.

“We are going to lose three of our top six,” said Severance, who will also welcome back junior Lin and freshman Christopher Shen. “They are there for each other which is really nice.”