By Mike Mack, Special Writer
Bordentown Regional High School alum and Ursinus College sophomore Russell Hill is on course for greatness as his golf skills really are excelling.
Hill averaged a 74 in his fall season as a sophomore and shot a low of 73. He recently was named the No. 1 golfer in the Centennial conference.
”To see that I was ranked really reassured me that what I have been practicing and working on in the past six months or so is really coming along,” Hill said. “Hopefully, (it) will continue into the spring season.”
Hill doesn’t concern himself with rankings too much, though. In fact, he explained he hadn’t even heard about being ranked No. 1 until Ursinus head golf coach Wesley Hollis told him one day at practice.
Coach Hollis understands the ranking could mean a lot of things, but one thing he does not want it to mean is high expectations for Hill.
”I don’t have any expectations for him except that he continues to work on his game and become a better golfer,” Hollis said. “Expectations are the killer of a good golf score.”
As an assistant captain, Hill will look to lead his team this season. And as the top-ranked golfer, he will look to put up impressive personal scores.
But Hill does not play to put up numbers and earn accolades. He plays for a much simpler reason.
”I play golf because I love the game,” Hill said. “Even when I say I hate it, I still want to come back and get better for the next round.”
Hill has been playing the game he loves for years now, including all four years at Bordentown Regional where he played for coach Ron Jones.
Hill explained the only difference between the high school and college levels was he had scheduled practices in high school whereas in college, he trains in his free time.
While Hill is looking into his immediate golf future, he is not quite ready to look too far down the line.
”People always ask if I want to do a career in golf or something in the industry,” Hill said. “The best answer I have is ‘I don’t know.’”
Hill explained his passion for golf is not driving him toward a career in the sport, but possibly pushing him away from the idea of making a job out of the game he loves.
”The last thing I want is for golf to become a job, and then I start to hate my job and lose my love for golf,” Hill said. “Wherever I end up in my future plans or career, I just hope that I end up waking up every morning happy and loving what I do.”
Hill does have another passion that could lead to a career, one on just about the complete opposite end of the spectrum.
”I guess you could say that if golf was my first love, flying was my second love,” Hill said. “I started taking flying lessons in high school, and when I got to college, I continued to pursue my dream of becoming a pilot.”
Hill admits it is taking a lot longer to get his license than he expected. Perhaps that could have something to do all the work he has put into his golf game. Flying allows Hill to take his mind off of golf while still giving him something to challenge himself with.
Hill is in the cross-country stage of the process of receiving his pilot’s license. In the meantime, he has a golf season to prepare for.
Ursinus tees off for the first time in this spring season March 20 at Dickinson College.

