Carl Junction Golfer Jack Spencer Showcases Brilliant Luster on the Links

By Don Lowe

year as a mainstay on Carl Junction Bulldogs Senior High Boys Golf Head Coach Ryan Jones’ squad, but it’s clear junior-to-be Jack Spencer is a rising star in this sport.

Through the early part of May, Jack put together an impressive end-ofseason run while coming oh-soclose to a Central Ozarks Conference championship, before falling to Owen Derryberry of Carthage in a playoff after two holes.

“I shot a -1-under par, 71,” Jack says. “I thought I played and scrambled my way around the golf course. It was nice to see some putts fall, for sure.”

He followed up his strong runner’s-up finish in conference by shooting a +5-over par, 75 in the District 3 Tournament.

“I made the All-District Team and qualified for state, as well. This wasn’t my best round, but I’m happy that I grinded it out.”

During a terrific regular season, one of his brightest moments came in early April when this talented young man won the Horton Smith Tournament at Schifferdecker Golf Course in Joplin, Missouri, while carding a 69 and finishing an impressive two strokes under par.

“It was encouraging to break 70 and tie the school record (69) in a tournament,” Jack assures. “It gave me confidence for the rest of the season.”

As a freshman for the Bulldogs in 2022, Jack showed his tremendous potential while winning the Carthage Tournament and going on to a seventh-place finish in the Class 4 State Championship at Meadow Lake Acres Golf Club in Bloomfield, Missouri.

Remembering his first high school title at the Carthage Tourney, Jack says, “The key was getting through the back nine and enduring the morning cold since I started on Hole 13. Once

I made the turn with 12 holes to play, I was able to warm up and got more comfortable hitting shots I knew how to hit.

“I shot a 33 on the front nine, en route to an even par, 71. It was cool to win that tournament since it was a playoff with two other golfers. I birdied the 10th hole, while the other two parred, which was enough to earn the victory.”

As for the ’22 state tourney, Jack says, “I was able to finish well by keeping a positive attitude and not letting a bad hole affect my whole round. I was the first golfer from Carl Junction to finish all-state in 25 years.”

Coach Jones is ecstatic to have Jack on his team and says, “Part of what makes Jack such a special golfer is that he is skilled at all facets of the game. His ability to score the ball from 100 yards in is high level.”

In speculating on his greatest improvement over the past year or so, Jack says, “I think I’ve been able to gain distance off the tee, which has helped me hit more greens and given me more opportunities to score the golf ball.”

He rationalizes that the best part of his game “is my mindset. I think few people have the mindset that you must do your best even when you don’t have your best. Every time I tee it up, I want to shoot under par, but that’s not realistic.

“That’s not to say I’m not going to try my best to

Carl Junction Bulldogs Golfer Jack Spencer Fast Facts

Age: 16

Grade in School: 11th in fall 2023

Parents: Ron and Kristi Spencer

Sibling: Logan Jolly, 26 years old

Hometown: Carl Junction, Missouri

Favorite Subject in School: Math

Favorite Golf Course: Payne’s Valley in Hollister, Missouri

Favorite Professional Golfer: Max Homa

Favorite Golf Movie: Tin Cup

Achievements: shoot under par. But I’m going to manage my expectations and shoot the best score possible without holding myself to a certain standard.”

–Started playing in the U.S. Kids’ Golf Tulsa local tour when he was nine years old and won his first tournament at the age of 10 years old.

–Three-time all-star golfer while playing in the Briarbrook PGA Junior League for three years. In 2021, won the Briarbrook Youth Club Championship and was also the Southwest Missouri Golf Association Champion in the 13-18-year-old age division.

–Also in 2021, qualified in the local and sub-regional Drive, Chip & Putt competitions to secure a spot in the regional event in Denver, Colorado, and came in third place at that event.

–During his freshman year at Carl Junction, was recognized as the Southwest Missouri Golfer of the Year by SOMO Sports and was the Joplin Globe’s Prep Athlete of the Week. –Last summer, finished third in the Missouri Junior Amateur in St. Louis.

Coach Jones sees a standard in Jack that is truly special and says, “Jack is a mature kid. He’s an exceptional student and an even better person. He’s humble and hardworking.”

All that hard work is paying off in a big way for Jack and it’s likely his performances on area links will only reflect more luster as he continues to polish his golf game at Carl Junction over the next couple of years.