Think one hole-in-one is impressive? Try two holes-in-one, on the same day, on the same hole.
That’s exactly what Sewanee sophomore Niel Phillips accomplished Monday at the Chick-Fil-A Invitational in Rome, Georgia.
Phillips, a New Orleans native competing on the Tigers’ B-team, began his first round on Stonebridge Country Club’s par-3 eighth hole during the tournament’s 36-hole day with back-to-back shotgun starts. He struck a 6-iron from 182 yards that found the bottom of the cup for an ace, according to his head coach, Keenan Hickton.
The sophomore struggled a bit after the excitement, playing his next four holes in a combined 5 over. But he settled down nicely, making birdies on Nos. 15-17 and stringing together several pars to finish with an even-par 72.
Then came the truly remarkable part. When Phillips headed back to No. 8 to start his second round, with hole locations unchanged, he took one less club – a 7-iron – and incredibly jarred his tee shot again.
“Watched them both,” Hickton texted Golf Channel. “… Both were perfect shots all the way.”
It’s believed to be the first time that any college player, at any level, has aced the same hole in back-to-back rounds on the same day.
The achievement stands out even more considering Phillips’ recent tournament history. This is his third start of the fall. He finished 82nd out of 96 players at Sewanee’s fall opener, the Gate City Invitational (where he did record two eagles), and most recently placed last in the 87-man Tartan Invitational, withdrawing during his second round. He’s currently ranked No. 831 by Scoreboard, while Sewanee sits fifth nationally as a team.
