Jack Prince, 18, has made a name for himself in the Jefferson County golf world.
Prince, a junior at Hillsboro High School, is a two-sport athlete finding a way to juggle playing golf and baseball.
“I’m really a baseball player at heart and I play second and third base at school,” he said. “But I feel like I’m a little bit better at golf and I really enjoy being out there playing.”
Prince of Hillsboro said having talented and flexible coaches has allowed him to thrive at both sports.
“I’m lucky to have two great coaches (for golf and baseball) who really work around both schedules. I don’t think many coaches would do that and it means a lot to me,” Prince said.
Brian Sucharski has coached golf at Hillsboro for 15 years, seven of those as head coach. He said Prince is one of the most talented players he’s coached, adding that talent runs in his family.
“Jack hits the ball extremely solid and it just comes off the club really easy for him. He is one of the best golfers that we’ve had here at Hillsboro,” Sucharski said. “I actually coached Jack’s older brother, Jake, in 2010 and he was part of one of the only teams we’ve had go to state. So Jack’s had a lot of previous background golfing.”
Prince said he started playing golf seriously seven or eight years ago, after seeing his older brother succeed on the links. Their parents are Bob and Chrissy Prince.
“I saw that Jake was a good golfer, so I started playing some Junior PGA tournaments with some pretty good competition when I was 10 or 11,” Prince said. “And last year, my sophomore year, was the first year playing in high school because I focused on baseball freshman year.”
The Hillsboro High golf team practices and plays its home matches at Raintree Golf Course and is undefeated in match play this season.
Prince has medaled in tournament play many times in his short high school career.
“We’ve haven’t lost a match the last two seasons,” Prince said. “And in tournaments, I think I’ve won three or four times, but all of them have been really competitive.”
But Prince recognizes just how challenging the sport can be.
“I’ve had a tournament here and there that got pretty rough, but that happens to everybody,” he said. “Even though I’m doing well with my driver, my putting hasn’t been where it needs to be, and that’s why my scores haven’t been where I know they can be. So I’m working hard on that.”
Despite some frustrations on the course, Prince also knows what big moments feel like.
“One of my proudest moments was last year at districts. It was coming down to the last few holes whether I would make state or not,” Prince said. “And on the 16th hole, I chipped it in from about 30 yards out for the birdie. If I hadn’t made that I probably wouldn’t have gone to state, so that was a big moment for me.”
At the Class 4 state championships, a two-day event held at Meadow Lake Acres Country Club in New Bloomfield, Prince finished 63rd, with a 171 stroke total. He also finished third at the 2022 JCAA Conference Tournament.
Sucharski said he is proud of Prince, the only Hawk to go to state last year, and has high hopes for his future.
“His game is getting better every year and he’s not hard to coach because he already has a lot of experience and awareness for his age,” Sucharski said. “Coaching him is just about helping him connect the dots when I can, and if he continues to progress like he’s been, overall, he’ll be a tough opponent for anyone his senior year.”
Prince said Scottie Scheffler is one of his favorite players.
“I really like him because we have a similar, goofy, unorthodox swing,” Prince joked. “But I like a lot of them. I look up to all the pros.”
Prince said he strives to be the best student and athlete he can be, but sees himself really focusing on golf.
“Baseball, for me, you can only play for so long, but golf is something you can play your whole life. And I would like to go pro one day, but I know how much more time, effort and money it will take,” Prince said. “So, we’ll see.”