HOLES IN ONE
Another profitable ace for Maui top cop

By Christie Wilson
Neighbor Island Bureau

WAILUKU, Maui — Maui Police Chief Tom Phillips is embarrassed.

You see, two weeks ago he won $10,000 by knocking in a hole in one on the 143-yard 15th hole at the Sandalwood Golf Course in Waikapu while playing in the annual Maui Crime Stoppers Invitational tournament. Two years earlier, he had won a Rolex watch after acing the 152-yard fourth hole in the very same tournament.

"I don't even want to go out in public," said Phillips, 49, a genuinely humble man who clearly does not like being the center of attention.

In fact, he'd rather be playing tennis.

"I enjoy tennis more and it doesn't take up a lot of time," he said. "And with golf, you have to practice to be good."

Apparently not. Phillips, a 27-year police veteran, said he plays golf an average of only once a month, usually at charity events or conferences. Instead of getting in a few swings at the driving range, he prepared for the Oct. 19 Crime Stoppers tournament by retiling his bathroom. So he went into the tournament with no expectations.

On the par-3 15th hole, with $10,000 on the line, Phillips watched as the three other players in his group hit ahead of him uphill into the wind. When they all missed the green to the left, the police chief decided to switch from a 6-iron to a 5-iron to compensate for the wind.

"The pin was in the back of the green and it was real windy and uphill, so I figured I needed more club. I hit it pretty good but I thought it was short," he recalled.

Phillips didn't see the ball bounce into the cup, but one member of his group did. "He started yelling and I said, 'No way, no way!' I was pretty shocked. It was embarrassing."

Phillips and his partner, Assistant Police Chief Sydney Kikuchi, finished second in the scramble-format tournament.

Two years ago when Phillips aced the No. 4 hole at Sandalwood, he used a wedge to hit downhill with the wind.

He gave away the Rolex watch he won on that occasion, and plans to donate a portion of his cash prize to charity. And he wants to paint his Wailuku house.

It will be good practice for his next golf outing, this week's Maui Hotel Association tournament at Kapalua.

Do you have a story to tell about your hole-in-one? Tell us about it. Stories must be typed and brief, around 50-100 words. The stories must include the date, course, hole, yardage and club. Return phone numbers must be listed. Holes-in-one must have been reported to The Advertiser by the golf courses. Fax submissions to 525-5491 or e-mail to: sports@honoluluadvertiser.com.