SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — With a short tap-in for par and ardent hugs from his coaches, teammates, and father, the noteworthy career of Georgia golfer Trent Phillips came to an end on Monday in the NCAA Championships at Grayhawk Golf Course.
Phillips rewrote the Bulldogs’ record book during his stint in Athens. He finished with a career scoring average of 70.35, eclipsing the school mark of 70.87 set by Lee McCoy from 2013-16. Phillips previously set the tournament scoring record of 20-under at the 2020 Ka’anapali Collegiate Classic. He wound up with the Nos. 2, 6, 7, and 11 single-season scoring averages, and he finished third with 24 top-10 career finishes. Phillips became the first Bulldog to earn four First-Team All-SEC honors and he is just the fourth four-year Bulldog (joining Kevin Kisner, Brian Harman, and Russell Henley) to never miss a tournament as he went 41-of-41.
“It’s an emotional day for us because it was Trent’s last round,” Georgia head coach Chris Haack said. “He has been an incredible player, competitor, and leader for our program. Trent came to work each and every day of his career. He is a special young man, and I will miss seeing him around our building. He played consistently well for four years. Our coaches and players respect everything he has done.”
Phillips will begin his professional career on Thursday in the Korn Ferry Tour’s REX Hospital Open. He earned a sponsor exemption by winning The Williams Cup earlier this season.
“Playing for Georgia has been a dream come true,” Phillips said. “I made friendships and relationships that will last a lifetime. I knew I would tear up coming off that last hole because it’s been so special competing for the Bulldogs. I am looking forward to starting my pro career and joining all of the other Georgia players out there.”
Playing Grayhawk’s par-70, 7,289-yard layout, the Bulldogs fired a final-round 19-over 299 to wind up at 51-over 1,171 and tied for 12th with Georgia Tech.
Juniors Connor Creasy and Ben van Wyk paced the Bulldogs on Monday as each signed for a 3-over 73. Junior Nicolas Cassidy added a 5-over 75 and Phillips posted an 8-over 78. Freshman Maxwell Ford had Georgia’s non-counting round of 10-over 80.
Van Wyk was the top Bulldog in the field, placing 37th at 10-over 290. Phillips came in 57th at 15-over 295, followed by Ford in 61st at 17-over 297, and Cassidy at 23-over 303. In his two rounds as a substitute, Creasy fired a 3-over 145.
“We are disappointed with the outcome, but I’m not disappointed in the effort of our team,” Haack said. “Our guys were really battling throughout the last four days. This was a learning experience for us, and we will all be better and tougher because of this test of golf.”