Phillips wins despite dodgem injury scare

Posted on 10/07/08. By Staff writer

An injury sustained riding in a dodgem car almost prevented Warwickshire professional Craig Phillips from playing in the Gulf Air PGA Pro-Captain International Challenge but he battled through to win the Midlands qualifier and book a luxury trip to Bahrain.

Phillips was enjoying some free time with his nine-year-old son at Nuneaton Carnival when he hurt his neck and there was some doubt as to whether he would be able to take part at The Leicestershire GC.

However, armed with a handful of painkillers Phillips and his amateur partner Liam McHugh carded a three-under-par 65 to claim the clubhouse lead.

They were later joined by Scraptoft's Simon Wood and club captain Martin Goode and with no play-off involved Phillips and 13-handicapper McHugh edged through on a countback after having the better back nine by just one shot - 31 to their rivals' 32.

Considering his situation less than 24 hours previously the 36-year-old Nuneaton Golf Club professional was delighted. He said: "Yesterday I couldn't swing a club because I had hurt my neck on the dodgems at the carnival with my son.

"I was struggling and I didn't hit any balls because of the pain.

"Today I was good and although I felt it a couple of times on the way round I took a couple of painkillers. With the elation of winning I didn't feel the pain."

The Nuneaton pair thought they had blown their chance with a bogey on the last hole and had a long wait to discover their fate. Fortunately for them the numbers added up and both can now look forward to a first trip to the Middle East. Phillips, vice chairman of the Midland PGA and chairman of Warwickshire PGA added: "We had a bit of an anxious wait because of that dropped shot on the last."

The winning pair can now look forward to a luxury trip to the Middle East which will begin with a chauffeur-driven ride to the airport and includes a stay at a five-star hotel during the final.