File picture, courtesy Russell Hill.

By Kent Gray
Josh Hill left last week’s Boys Home Internationals with a thoroughly impressive three from four record on debut, a sizeable share of the glory of a title three peat as a result – and absolutely no idea of when he might play for England again.

The 14-year-old knows all he can do is to keep posting numbers and his name up in lights. So far so good.

The Jumeirah Golf Estates star-in-waiting is through to the matchplay phase of the British Boys Amateur Championship and in some style too, finish T-5 after 36-holes of strokeplay qualifying on two or Ireland’s toughest links layouts.

After an even par 72 on Portstewart on Tuesday, Hill posted a memorable 70 on Royal Portrush yesterday. The one-under loop of next year’s Open Championship venue saw the Dubai—born team leap five places up the leaderboard and finish just two shots behind qualifying medalists Robin Williams (Eng) and Mark O]Power (Ire).

Hill faces Lewis Irvine in their round of 32 match at Portrush from 12.55pm (3.55pm UAE time) today after the Scot fromKirkhill G.C. finished in a share of 50th place following rounds of 75-74.

The JGE player knows he just has to keep trending.

“I’m not playing anything else [international] this year as I’m not in the team so hopefilly I can impress them to get in the team next year,” Hill told Golf Digest Middle East.

Hill’s JGE club-mate and fellow Butch Harmon School of Golf Dubai trainee Arjun Gupta missed the top-64 cut after rounds of 78-76 to finish +11 in T-122.