For the second consecutive season, Texas A&M men’s golf junior Chandler Phillips has been honored by the league’s coaches as a First-Team All-SEC performer as the conference unveiled its list of annual awards Thursday. Sophomore Brandon Smith was also recognized, garnering a spot on the SEC Community Service Team.
Phillips, who garnered Second Team PING All-America honors as a sophomore a year ago, has again stood out as one of the nation’s top golfers this season. The Huntsville, Texas, native has won three events this year, giving him a total of five for his career and tying him with Anthony Rodriguez for most victories in an A&M career. During the 2017-18 campaign, Phillips won the Badger Invitational, the Aggie Invite and in February became the first ever two-time winner at the John Burns Intercollegiate. He brings a 70.55 stroke average into the NCAA Championship and is on pace to break his own school record set last season. Phillips has posted 24 rounds of par or better in his 33 rounds of competition.
In addition to the All-SEC accolade, Phillips recently joined an elite field of 30 of the top golfers who were named semifinalists for the 2018 Division I Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award presented by Barbasol. The field will be narrowed down further on May 24 before the Nicklaus award recipient is announced June 1.
Meanwhile, Smith earned his spot on the Community Service Team in recognition for his contributions off the course. Among his notable service efforts are serving as the team's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representative as well as participation in Aggies Can, the nation's largest student-run food drive, and the Big Event, which is the largest one-day, student-run service project in the nation.
The second-ranked Aggies are gearing up to begin postseason play on their home course as Texas A&M will host the NCAA Bryan Regional May 14-16 at Traditions Club.
