Golf: Parents with Iles as he recovers from fall

New Zealand's top amateur golfer Bradley Iles is breathing on his own accord after suffering serious head injuries in the United States.

Iles, 20, is in a Georgia hospital with a fractured skull after he fell from a golf cart a few hours after he had competed in a tournament.

He had brain surgery to remove a blood clot.

Iles' parents flew from New Zealand to the United States after news of the accident and father Peter last night said his son was making progress.

"He's stable. He's had his ventilator taken off and he's breathing for himself," Peter Iles told One News.

"I've had a lot of calls from people in support, wishing us well. We really appreciate that.

"It's a hell of a long way from home but at least we are with him and our hopes and prayers are with him."

Peter Iles said his son believed he had to get up early tomorrow to catch a flight and was worried about sleeping in.

Iles' Wellington-based coach Mal Tongue said it was too early to know how long he would remain in hospital.

Iles was transported from the golf course in South Carolina to the University Medical Centre in Savannah, Georgia.

"They shipped him there because that is one of the foremost places for brain surgery and the team who operated on him are one of the one of the best in America," Tongue said.

"If you wanted to have a bad accident that was the best place to be."

The hospital staff were pleased with his progress after the operation and he understood what had happened, Tongue added.

"A nurse said that when she told him that Mal had rung, he had a little smile, so he seemed to understand what she was talking about."

Tongue could not confirm reports Iles was out riding in a golf cart looking for alligators when the accident happened, or if alcohol was involved.

Tournament organiser Steve Wilmot said the accident happened about 11pm on Sunday, nine hours after the competition had finished.

"Our understanding is that the reason they were out is that they were looking for alligators and planning on doing some fishing," he said.

"There were two people sitting in the front, which is why Brad was standing on the back.

"He thought the cart was going left, and when it went right he fell off.

"There were about six or seven people riding around in two carts."

Iles had been in the US contesting a series of tournaments and had finished equal ninth in the Players' Amateur.

His trip to the US had been part of his preparations for the world amateur teams championship at Puerto Rico from October 28-31.

- NZPA