Allan Phillips was a member of the Emory golf program from 1997 through 2001. He captured All-University Athletic Association honors all four years and played on three Eagle teams that posted top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships. By the time his career had concluded, he had competed in a total of 87 rounds (then tying the second most in program history) and his 78.31 strokes-per-round average stood sixth on Emory's all-time chart. A native of Baldwin, Maryland, he distinguished him in the class room as well, landing Academic All-America honors and receiving the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.
Q: Occupation and where are you living?
AP: I am a physical therapist living in Tucson, Arizona, Currently, I am mobilizing to deploy to the Middle East as a physical therapist in the US Army Reserves.
Q: Can you give an update on some of your experiences post-Emory to where you are now?
AP: Went to law school directly from undergrad and spent 8 years practicing law ... Pivoted into PT after starting a side business of fitness training focusing on golfers ... Spent six years playing professional Speedgolf ... Served active duty Army from 2013-2018; transitioned to reserves in 2018 but am now reactivated for a 9 month deployment.
Q: What were the primary factors in you choosing Emory?
AP: Being a part of something much bigger than myself. The vibe when I visited campus just felt like I was in a special place of high achievers.
Q: Can you provide some reflections upon your time at Emory, both as a golfer and as a student?
AP: Some people don't appreciate their college experience until years later, but I knew the moment I left Atlanta after graduation that I was blessed to have a very special experience.
Q: Who were some of the people who had an influence on you during your time at Emory?
AP: Colonel (Ret) Brian McGuire, US Marine Corps, former Emory head athletic trainer. He influenced in my career paths in later years.
Paul Doyle and Chris Smith -- Former track and cross country assistants who helped introduce me to weight training and running respecitvely.
Coach Phillips - one thing that we kinda made fun of at the time was how he'd tell us to clean up our hotel rooms when we checked out to make life easier for the cleaning crew. So treating the "little guy" with dignity stuck with me over the years.
Q: What are some highlights that you remember while playing golf at Emory?
AP: Having the team sweep the top five individual spots (and All Conference honors) at 1998 UAA Championships and win by 69 shots. I was only player not in the top five after the first round but I came back with the low round of the tournament in round 2 shooting 71
At NCAAs and UAAs it was always nice to have several players' families join the team for the event
Playing two tournaments at the Naval Academy brought me back home to Maryland
Q: Where did your love of golf develop? ... When did you start playing?
AP: I started playing sometime in middle school, when my dad picked up the game. Was hooked because it was a thinking man's sport and I could practice a lot on my own without having to round up a bunch of people for a pickup game. Had been a baseball player at that point, but golf was my ticket to making varsity as a freshman in high school, whereas I probably would have made the freshman team as a baseball player
Q: Was there any particular course or courses that you enjoyed playing while you were at Emory?
AP: Taconic GC at Williams University, host of 1999 NCAAs
Torrey Pines South
Longue Vue
Virginia CC
US Naval Academy
Q: You closed out your career 6th in all-time scoring average at Emory while earning the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and Academic All-America honors -- how challenging was it for you to balance your academic and athletic workloads?
AP: Other than during midterms and finals I didn't find it too challenging. Of course, it helped that I had basically zero social life lol!
Q: How much golf are you able to play nowadays?
AP: Actually quite a bit this spring/summer, until last month when my mobilization and deployment began. The pandemic slowed down many things in my life but in Arizona golf courses stayed open so I had more time to play.
Q: How you are surviving the pandemic and how has it affected you?
AP: Been able to play a good amount of golf this year (more than I have probably played since college!). On the business side, it has been a challenge with operations being closed, then reopened, then closed again, and all the uncertainty that comes with it.
Q: Any interests/hobbies or things you do to relax when away from work?
AP: Other than golf, I compete in triathlon. And, I actually love what I do now as a PT so a lot of my time "away from work" is spent studying health and human performance.
Q: Are there any former teammates that you are in contact with?
AP: Mike Dilonardo and Brandon Davis were both in my wedding. I keep up somewhat regularly with Brandon via social media, following his work as a PGA Tour caddie. I also bought a car from Matt Browning at one of his dealerships in Los Angeles.
Q: Are you able to keep up with Emory golf?
AP: Yes!!
Q: Is there anything that you take from being a student-athlete into your profession?
AP: I was ineffective as a leader when I was on the team. I set a good example of work ethic and dedication but I made little effort to encourage others to follow along. If they didn't want to work as hard on their games, that was their choice. Later in life I've learned that my ability to achieve professional success is in large part dependent on my ability to lead people to perform at their very best, which will often require leading them out of their comfort zone.
Q: Any advice you would give Emory students/future grads?
AP: Your grades don't define who you are.
Allan Phillips played six years of professional Speedgolf.