Chandler Phillips already ranks as one of the top golfers in Texas A&M history, and, as one of the best in the nation this season, the junior is a contender for the NCAA individual title this weekend. But even with four wins in 2018 and six in his college career, the junior isn't the most decorated member of his family.
In the Phillips' home in Huntsville, Chandler's trophies sit on a shelf on the right side of the TV; his younger brother, Dawson, has his Special Olympics' medals hanging on a trophy on the left side.
"If you separated them all out, it probably would be a really close race," said Keith Phillips, the boys' father. "We do all the local Special Olympics' competitions, and they give them a medal for each event. Of course, with Dawson, it's all about getting the medal for him."
Dawson, who has autism, and Chandler are close. Chandler, 21, enjoys watching his brother compete in the 50-yard dash and the softball throw. Dawson, 18, might not understand exactly what his brother does but loves it when Chandler brings home another trophy.
Chandler loves his trophies, too. But as much as he loves winning, Chandler hates losing even more.
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"Chandler absolutely hates to get beat in anything," Keith Phillips said. "It doesn't matter. And he really hates it if he beats himself."
It's a good thing, then, that Chandler wins a lot.
Phillips ranks 11th in the nation, winning four of 12 tournaments this season. He finished in the top 15 in every tournament except one, which was the first competition after the Christmas break. Phillips finished 28th in the Arizona Intercollegiate in late January after taking the winter off to duck hunt.
In 36 rounds this season, Phillips has had 13 rounds in the 60s with a high score of 75.
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"You throw that Arizona tournament out, and he might be the No. 1 or 2-ranked player in the country," A&M coach J.T. Higgins said. "Four wins and all the top 10s. He just never plays bad."
Phillips finished 13th individually at the NCAA Championship a year ago. This year, he will have his teammates alongside him. The second-ranked Aggies made the NCAA Championships as a team and begin play Friday at the Karsten Creek Golf Course in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
The Aggies won the NCAA championship in 2009 as a team. They have never had an individual winner in men's golf.
"If we all play to our potential and play together as a team, I believe we have a chance," Phillips said. "But we can't get frustrated with anything. We can't let any bad shots get to us. Just keep everything in front of us. Don't let stuff behind us get to us."
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It has taken hours of practice and hundreds of rounds for Phillips to get here. He began playing when he was 5 or 6, tagging along with his father and grandfather during their Saturday rounds at Trinity Plantation Golf Course.
Chandler started by hitting drives. He advanced to hitting in the fairway from his father's drive. Soon, he was playing several holes and then the entire course. Before his father knew it, Chandler was beating him.
Chandler, who also excelled in baseball, chose to concentrate on golf when he was 11.
"I love it," Chandler said. "I love the challenge of it, knowing that every day is not going to be the same. The motivation you've got to put in to practicing to get as good as you can get. I don't know how to explain it, other than I love everything about it – the excitement, how you've got to concentrate and really just keep everything in front of you."
Phillips loves everything about the game except talking about it.
"Golf is pretty much my life, but I like to have some other things to go along with it," Phillips said.
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Phillips represented the U.S. in the Palmer Cup last year in Atlanta and made the elite 12-member team again this year, with a trip to France scheduled for early July. His only concern is finding American food, a problem Phillips solved in Japan a few years ago by frequenting an Outback.
The game has taken Phillips places, even if he doesn't particularly like traveling.
"My wife and I have talked about this a lot," Keith Phillips said. "Our main goal was to get him in as good competition we could get him into to make him better and try to get him a college scholarship. Anything past that was a bonus.
"He had the talent, and Chandler is a workaholic. You take the combination of the talent and the work ethic, I knew he could turn out to be a good college player. Now, did I think he'd become one of the best in college? I can't say that I thought that. There's such a fine line between good and great at every level. You never know where they're going to peak. One thing I can say about Chandler is whatever the competition has been, he's had just a little bit of an adjustment, and then he's there. It didn't take him long to get to that next level. We're hoping that's going to be the case in professional golf."
Chandler still has unfinished business at A&M before he seeks to live out his lifelong dream. But as a three-time All-SEC performer and two-time All-American, he already has left his mark on the program.
"I think he's already either tied or first for career wins," Higgins said. "He's probably going to be a three-time All-American and Palmer Cupper. They don't just hand those things out. Those are all earned. He's probably going to go down with the lowest stroke average in school history.
"He's just been amazing. He's so consistent and plays so well at a high level all the time. For sure, he's definitely one of the best players we've ever had here."
Chandler, a sports management major, hasn't really considered a future without golf. Why should he? He's good enough to do what many of his friends are doing now.
"Playing professional golf has always been what I've wanted to do forever," Phillips said. "When I finally felt like I could actually do it was pretty much last year.
"I have a bunch of friends who have gone out there and turned pro and are actually making a living doing it. I've stuck right there with them through college. We would all go back and forth in tournaments. They'd beat me; I'd beat them. It shows I can compete out there. I hope I'm not tricking myself or anything like that, or getting the wrong impression of it, but I think I can go out there and do what they're doing."
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In the Phillips' home in Huntsville, Chandler's trophies sit on a shelf on the right side of the TV; his younger brother, Dawson, has his Special Olympics' medals hanging on a trophy on the left side.
"If you separated them all out, it probably would be a really close race," said Keith Phillips, the boys' father. "We do all the local Special Olympics' competitions, and they give them a medal for each event. Of course, with Dawson, it's all about getting the medal for him."
Dawson, who has autism, and Chandler are close. Chandler, 21, enjoys watching his brother compete in the 50-yard dash and the softball throw. Dawson, 18, might not understand exactly what his brother does but loves it when Chandler brings home another trophy.
Chandler loves his trophies, too. But as much as he loves winning, Chandler hates losing even more.
Â
"Chandler absolutely hates to get beat in anything," Keith Phillips said. "It doesn't matter. And he really hates it if he beats himself."
It's a good thing, then, that Chandler wins a lot.
Phillips ranks 11th in the nation, winning four of 12 tournaments this season. He finished in the top 15 in every tournament except one, which was the first competition after the Christmas break. Phillips finished 28th in the Arizona Intercollegiate in late January after taking the winter off to duck hunt.
In 36 rounds this season, Phillips has had 13 rounds in the 60s with a high score of 75.
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"You throw that Arizona tournament out, and he might be the No. 1 or 2-ranked player in the country," A&M coach J.T. Higgins said. "Four wins and all the top 10s. He just never plays bad."
Phillips finished 13th individually at the NCAA Championship a year ago. This year, he will have his teammates alongside him. The second-ranked Aggies made the NCAA Championships as a team and begin play Friday at the Karsten Creek Golf Course in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
The Aggies won the NCAA championship in 2009 as a team. They have never had an individual winner in men's golf.
"If we all play to our potential and play together as a team, I believe we have a chance," Phillips said. "But we can't get frustrated with anything. We can't let any bad shots get to us. Just keep everything in front of us. Don't let stuff behind us get to us."
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It has taken hours of practice and hundreds of rounds for Phillips to get here. He began playing when he was 5 or 6, tagging along with his father and grandfather during their Saturday rounds at Trinity Plantation Golf Course.
Chandler started by hitting drives. He advanced to hitting in the fairway from his father's drive. Soon, he was playing several holes and then the entire course. Before his father knew it, Chandler was beating him.
Chandler, who also excelled in baseball, chose to concentrate on golf when he was 11.
"I love it," Chandler said. "I love the challenge of it, knowing that every day is not going to be the same. The motivation you've got to put in to practicing to get as good as you can get. I don't know how to explain it, other than I love everything about it – the excitement, how you've got to concentrate and really just keep everything in front of you."
Phillips loves everything about the game except talking about it.
"Golf is pretty much my life, but I like to have some other things to go along with it," Phillips said.
Â
Phillips represented the U.S. in the Palmer Cup last year in Atlanta and made the elite 12-member team again this year, with a trip to France scheduled for early July. His only concern is finding American food, a problem Phillips solved in Japan a few years ago by frequenting an Outback.
The game has taken Phillips places, even if he doesn't particularly like traveling.
"My wife and I have talked about this a lot," Keith Phillips said. "Our main goal was to get him in as good competition we could get him into to make him better and try to get him a college scholarship. Anything past that was a bonus.
"He had the talent, and Chandler is a workaholic. You take the combination of the talent and the work ethic, I knew he could turn out to be a good college player. Now, did I think he'd become one of the best in college? I can't say that I thought that. There's such a fine line between good and great at every level. You never know where they're going to peak. One thing I can say about Chandler is whatever the competition has been, he's had just a little bit of an adjustment, and then he's there. It didn't take him long to get to that next level. We're hoping that's going to be the case in professional golf."
Chandler still has unfinished business at A&M before he seeks to live out his lifelong dream. But as a three-time All-SEC performer and two-time All-American, he already has left his mark on the program.
"I think he's already either tied or first for career wins," Higgins said. "He's probably going to be a three-time All-American and Palmer Cupper. They don't just hand those things out. Those are all earned. He's probably going to go down with the lowest stroke average in school history.
"He's just been amazing. He's so consistent and plays so well at a high level all the time. For sure, he's definitely one of the best players we've ever had here."
Chandler, a sports management major, hasn't really considered a future without golf. Why should he? He's good enough to do what many of his friends are doing now.
"Playing professional golf has always been what I've wanted to do forever," Phillips said. "When I finally felt like I could actually do it was pretty much last year.
"I have a bunch of friends who have gone out there and turned pro and are actually making a living doing it. I've stuck right there with them through college. We would all go back and forth in tournaments. They'd beat me; I'd beat them. It shows I can compete out there. I hope I'm not tricking myself or anything like that, or getting the wrong impression of it, but I think I can go out there and do what they're doing."
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