Photo courtesy Russell Hill
Josh Hill (second from right, front row) with his England team-mates after the 10-5 win over hosts Scotland.

By Kent Gray
Josh Hill has a busy day ahead at the Boys Home Internationals after helping England make a winning start to their defence of the U-18 team event at Royal Dornoch.

The Dubai-domiciled 14-year-old overcame inevitable early nerves in tandem with Hertfordshire 15-year-old Max Hopkins to beat Scotland’s Jack Broun and Andrew Thornton 4&3, a critical early point as England went on to beat the hosts 10-5.

Check out this classic cut-down links shot from the Jumeirah Golf Estates teen in his memorable international debut, posted by his proud father Russell:

What a solid start after a little shake! What a day what a course what an experience! Morning foursomes. Decided not to play opening tee shot due to nerves which was quite right. Lost the first hole, then stuck the ball on an incredibly hard green on the 2nd which I can’t describe but is one of the hardest looking par 3’s I have ever seen. He was left with a 3 footer which he nervously missed! 2 down after two! The Max and Josh shifted into another gear. Some stunning golf by both! Funny how due to the way the holes and shots to play fell Josh never had to hit a driver until the twelfth. They were good and I am quite proud (just in case you can’t tell)! Shot played Knock down into wind, result twenty feet from pin, hole won! @jgegolf @bhsgdubai @jmarshallgolf @j.hill_golf

A post shared by Russell (@russellhill19) on

Hill Jnr will be reunited with Hopkins as England take on Wales, who lost 10-5 to Ireland in their opening match, on Wednesday. The Englishmen face Sean David and Tom Peet in a foursomes match at 11.30m (UAE time) before Hill gets his first taste of singles action against David at 4.30pm (also UAE time).

David will be hoping to recover from a 5&3 hammering at the hands of Ireland’s Charlie Denvir.

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Hill and Hopkins found themselves in an early hole against the Scots as a birdie-par start from Broun and Thornton saw them go two up after two as the England lads started par-bogey.

But it quickly swung with Hill and Hopkins playing their next 10 holes in five under before shaking hands on the 15th following three successive pars.

Russell Hill takes up the story:

“What a solid start after a little shake!…What a day what a course what an experience!,” Hill Snr wrote on Instagram.

“Morning foursomes. [Josh] decided not to play opening tee shot due to nerves which was quite right. Lost the first hole, then stuck the ball on an incredibly hard green on the 2nd which I can’t describe but is one of the hardest looking par 3’s I have ever seen. He was left with a 3 footer which he nervously missed! 2 down after two!

“Then Max and Josh shifted into another gear. Some stunning golf by both! Funny how due to the way the holes and shots to play fell, Josh never had to hit a driver until the 12th.

“They were good and I am quite proud (just in case you can’t tell)!”