First pro success for Phillips
07/07/2014
Reece Phillips secured a first ever tournament success as a professional with victory at the West Essex Golf Club Pro-Am.
Phillips, 24, is a long-term member at the club and put his course experience to good use in firing a three-under-par 68.
He came home one stroke ahead of another West Essex-based pro Vincent Cox and Kieran James.
Phillips’ win was reward for a lengthy practice session on the eve of the tournament as he explained.
“I hadn’t been playing well in the week, so I spoke to my coach Matt Belsham (the resident PGA Professional at Whitehill in Hertfordshire) the night before. He gave me a few pointers and I was out practising until it got dark,” said Phillips.
Belsham’s words of wisdom clearly got his pupil back on track as Phillips made a clutch of birdies to get into contention. A bogey and a three-putt late on threatened to undermine his title bid – but a birdie at his last, the short par-four 1st hole, got him over the line.
“It is my first win as a pro and it feels great,” assessed Phillips. "And to do it at West Essex – where I’ve been a member for about 12 years – is perfect.”
Cox led the triumphant team on a total of 125 – two better than the next best.
