Niel Phillips, a sophomore on Sewanee’s Division III golf team, didn’t win the 2025 Chick-fil-a Invitational on Monday. But Phillips achieved a feat far rarer and more memorable than a college golf win. He made two holes-in-one on the same hole on the same day in competition.
Here’s what you need to know about Phillips’ incredible feat, and just how unlikely it is.
Niel Phillips aces same hole twice at Chick-fil-A Invitational
We know about Phillips’ adventure in aces thanks to Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine, who broke the story on Monday.
The Chil-fil-A Invitational was played at Stonebridge Country Club in Rome, Ga. With two rounds on the docket for Monday, Phillips began the shotgun start on Stonebridge’s par-3 8th hole, which stretches out to 195 yards.
According to Romine’s report, the sophomore chose a 6-iron and opened with a bang: a hole-in-one, just the second of his life.
After finishing off an even-par round of 72, Phillips headed back to the 8th tee to start his second round. With the heavy morning air having dissipated, Phillips chose a 7-iron this time and again watched as his ball dropped into the hole, which was in the same position it was for his first ace.
Phillips told Golf Channel he was “in disbelief” after his second ace, attributing it to “two good swings and some good luck.”
He would finish the second round with a 71, but a disappointing 79 in Round 3 dropped him to a T14-finish.
You can read more about Phillips’ feat and his comments following the round in Golf Channel’s story here.
