SWINDON golfer Kevin Phillips drove himself into office as club captain at Broome Manor in the time-honoured manner, writes Ernie Newell.

A sizeable crowd, including his former club and county colleague David Howell, turned up to see Phillips launch his year at the helm.

And as one would expect of an experienced county player, the new skipper hit a screamer of a tee-shot that befitted the occasion.

"I pulled it a bit, but hit it well enough," he said.

"It was about as good as David (Howell) has been hitting them lately," he added with a chuckle.

Twice Ryder Cup player Howell had come down from London, shortly after flying in from India following his failure to make the cut in the EMAAR-MGF Indian Masters, to support his old friend.

"It was nice of him," said Phillips.

"Just let's hope that 2008 is a good year for both David and Broome Manor."

Phillips, 40, who was taking over the reins at the 31-year-old Swindon club from Lee Robson, has been a member at the Manor since 1984.

He made his Wiltshire debut in 1992 and plays off a handicap of scratch.

The Manor's new women's captain Sue Silto, seniors' skipper Peter Hancock and junior skipper Neil Puffett also drove themselves into office.

Jonathan Haines, a 15-handicapper from Swindon, had earlier won retiring skipper Robson's Farewell Cup with a round of two under par nett 69.

Robson himself was second with 70 playing off five. Another five-handicapper, Gerry Hall, was third with 72.

Outgoing women's captain Linda Brittain (14) was also runner-up in the women's section with nett 70, one stroke behind Kay Dickinson (9).

Fittingly, new club captain Phillips shot the day's best gross of 74.

  • Miles Mackman, the 21-year-old Broome Manor international and Lagonda Trophy winner, has just returned from Spain after two weeks warm weather training at the Arcos Gardens Resort at Jerez with the England A Squad.

Arcos Gardens comprises state-of-the-art training facilities and a 7,400-yard championship course and the training is seen by the English Golf Union as a critical part of the preparations for the demanding 2008 amateur golf schedule.

Another highly talented young Broome Manor player, Wiltshire and South Western Counties champion Sam Matton, 19, jets out to Arcos Gardens early next month for warm weather training with the England Under 21 squad.