DRIVEN TO SUCCEED: Princeton High golf star Adam MacMillan follows through on a swing in action this spring. Senior MacMillan placed second individually in the state Central/South Jersey Sectional on May 10 as PHS took second in the team standings. Last week, he helped the Tigers win the first-ever CVC Match Play Tournament title with a 157-167 win over WW/P-North at the Springdale Golf Club. PHS ended the spring with a 15-0 record in dual match play. MacMillan will continuing his golf career at West Chester University next year.  (Photo provided courtesy of Sheryl Severance)

By Bill Alden

Adam MacMillan got off to a shaky start as he teed off in the CVC Match Play final for the Princeton High golf team last week when it hosted WW/P-North at the Springdale Golf Club.

“I hadn’t played there in a year and a half, I was not sure what to hit off the tee,” said MacMillan.

“I pull out an iron and I hooked it into the woods and it is gone. I played a provisional after that and I ended up double bogeying the first hole, but I didn’t let that get to me because I knew two-over was going to be a competitive score at the end of the day. It was a little nerve-wracking, but then I started to calm down a little bit.”

Senior star MacMillan settled down, shooting a four-over 39 for the nine-hole competition to help PHS defeat WW/P-North 157-167 to win the first-ever CVC Match Play and end the season with a 15-0 record in dual match play.

“On the fifth hole, I had my most memorable shot of the day: I was a half an inch from a hole in one,” said MacMillan.

“It was a big turnaround, it was a big shot for me. Once I made it, it was there you go, get one back and finish strong.”

The win over North in his PHS finale is leaving MacMillan with a special memory.

“We would always lose to North, they were the top team my first two years, so being able to win meant a lot to me,” said MacMillan

“I know my teammates feel the same way, it meant a lot of them and it meant a lot to coach [Sheryl Severance]. Having kids win it in their first or second season was a great experience for them. I hope they cherish that.”

MacMillan has cherished getting to play this spring for PHS after the 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It was just awesome just being able to get back out there and to be competing with my teammates for the rest of the year,” said MacMillan

“I felt bad for our seniors last year who didn’t get a season. I usually just compete by myself so being able to go out with the team and being able to finish my career at PHS was special.”

As a team captain, MacMillan enjoyed imparting some wisdom to his younger teammates. 

“There were a lot of the younger guys who weren’t there before and who just started,” said MacMillan.

“It was just giving them advice from things I have picked up over the years from all of my experience. I know before some matches, especially our last ones, they were nervous. I just helped calm them down a little bit and tell them to just go out and do your best. I think coach Severance did really well this year in making sure that everyone was ready to go and felt welcome and well acclimated to the environment.”

PHS began the season by playing well with lopsided wins in its first four matches and then gained a shot of confidence after edging WW/P-North 161-166 on April 22 to improve to 5-0.

“I knew that once we had beaten North, we would get over the hump because they were the best team we faced,” said MacMillan.

“After that, we started to get a little less nervous and also we started playing really well. That was the turning point of the season. It was ‘OK we have got this, we can go on a pretty good run this year.’”

Playing at the Central/South Jersey Sectional on May 10 at  Charleston Springs in Millstone, MacMillan and PHS had a very good day. MacMillan carded a one-over 73 to finish second in the individual standings while the Tigers had a score of 328 to place second in the team standings behind champion Montgomery.

“During the offseason and during COVID, I was going to the gym a lot more,” said MacMillan. “I picked up a lot of distance. I just felt really confident going out there. After a couple of practice rounds and warmups, I was just striking the ball really well. It just all came together that day.”

A week later, playing at the state Tournament of Champions at Hawk Pointe Golf Club in Washington, MacMillan scored a 10-over 80 to place 61st individually as PHS placed 14th overall and fourth in Group 4. While that result was a bit disappointing, it helped steel the Tigers for the CVC Match Play competition.

“Being able to play in sectionals and states did give us a big boost of confidence that hey we can really make a run here and we are the team to beat,” said MacMillan.

The squad was also determined to make a big run to help longtime coach Severance enjoy a fitting finale as she was stepping down after a 28-year tenure guiding the program.

“She instilled a lot of confidence in us every match,” said MacMillan of Severance.

“She liked to start it with a huddle and has a quote she uses almost every day that she will tell us. She was able to build a chemistry. Knowing that this was her last season, we really did push ourselves as much as we could to play well. We knew we wanted to make it special for her, we wanted to send her off with a great season.”

Severance, for her part, credits MacMillan with making a great impact on the squad. 

“Adam is a very special player for me. We just had our end of the year meeting and it got a little emotional,” said Severance.

“I am going to miss him tremendously. He stepped up so many times. He is just a very cool player, he has a laid back demeanor. He doesn’t get upset easily. He is dedicated to it and it is all for his team. It is not just for Adam, it is for the team.”

Next year, MacMillan will be working hard for a new team as he has committed to attend West Chester
University and play for its men’s golf program. Over the summer, he will be
looking to keep his game sharp and continue to get stronger physically.

“I am going to do some USGA events, a couple of Met events, and N.J. state events,” said MacMillan.

“I am not going to do as many junior tournaments as I did before. I am in college now. I have to make sure that I am going to the gym.”

As MacMillan looks back on his PHS career, he will savor the journey with his teammates as much as his achievements on the course.

“I would say the biggest thing that will stand out is the bus rides,” said MacMillan, reflecting his high school experience.

“It is only six people but we have fun. Everyone might be quiet when we are driving there, but when you come back with a win, everyone is talking and laughing. Those are the things you miss.”

And the Tiger program will certainly miss MacMillan.