Dubai: Dubai-based British golfer Josh Hill finished fifth out of 65 golfers after shooting 77, 76, 74 (227) on his international debut in the boys’ Under-10 category of the US Kids Golf European Championship in Gullane, Scotland last week.
The result has qualified the Dubai English Speaking College student, who plays off a seven handicap, to the US Kids World Junior Championships at Pinehurst in the US — the scene of this weekend’s US Open — from July 30 to August 3.
Josh’s father and caddy Russell said his son’s result was impressive given his unfamiliarity with wet and windy links course conditions. “He’s not arrogant but he knows he’s good, and he pushed us to enter him for the competition to find out just how good he was,” said Russell. “Before we went there we had targeted a top half finish.
“Having only ever played in the sunny and calm conditions of Dubai, we didn’t know what to expect. But for him to finish fifth is beyond our wildest dreams and we are over the moon.”
Josh first picked up a club at the age of two but didn’t receive professional coaching until the age of six. He reached the elite group of training aged nine and started one-to-one tuition under John Howells at the Butch Harmon School of Golf at the start of the year.
The Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club member regularly plays in local Emirates Golf Federation Order of Merit junior events and in the local par three leagues. On his first attempt over an 18 hole golf course he hit 99 at the age of seven and hit his first under par round off the ladies tees at Jumeirah Golf Estates Earth Course aged nine.
He has hit four hole in one’s to date and won this season’s Arabian Ranches par three Order of Merit and the U14 Grass Roots title at The Track, Meydan, aged nine.
His father Russell said the next target would be a strong showing in America, provided the family could first raise the funds to send him there.
“Qualification to America wasn’t on our radar, we never budgeted for the trip and it will be a struggle financially, so the first target is just to get him there,” he said.
“Realistically, if he goes, the goal is the same as it was heading into Scotland. He just wants to enjoy the challenge of playing in tournament conditions and competing at the highest level. He’s looking to be in the top half of the field again, after that who knows? He just loves playing golf.”
