15-Year-Old Becomes Youngest Winner Of A Mens World Ranking Event

England's Josh Hill has beaten Ryo Ishikawa's record as the youngest winner of a world ranking event

15-Year-Old Becomes Youngest Winner Of A Mens World Ranking Event

England's Josh Hill has beaten Ryo Ishikawa's record as the youngest winner of a world ranking event

15-Year-Old Becomes Youngest Winner Of A Mens World Ranking Event

Josh Hill has beaten Ryo Ishikawa's record to become the youngest golfer to win an Official World Golf Ranking sanctioned event at the age of 15.

Englishman Hill, born and raised in Dubai, won the Al Ain Open on the Mena Tour aged 15 years 8 months, two months younger than Ishikawa when he won on the Japan Tour in 2007.

The Mena Tour stands for Middle East North Africa and its winners have received OWGR points since 2016.

Josh Hill will move up to around 1,200 in the world after his victory at Al Ain Golf, Equestrian and Shooting Club.

Hill shot a bogey-free final round 62 (-8) to reach 17 under par and beat 2017 Amateur Champion Harry Ellis by two.

Due to his amateur status, Hill could not win the first prize of £10,477 so it went to Ellis in second.

"I really don't know what to say right now. I am shocked," he said.

"If you had told me during the summer that I will be winning a Mena Tour title against professionals and become the youngest ever winner of an Official World Golf Ranking event, I would have laughed at the notion," added Hill.

"I guess hard work pays. I am actually a little disappointed with my finish because I missed so many opportunities coming in. I honestly could have broken 60 today. I knew I needed a good start, and once I got it, I just kept hitting one good shot after the other."

Hill's final round scorecard (Screenshot: Mena Tour)

Six-time Major winner Nick Faldo tweeted his support, writing "Great playing Josh...what’s next for you?"

Ian Poulter also congratulated Hill, writing "This is amazing... Well played Josh Hill... Beyond impressive."

2016 Masters champion Danny Willett wrote, "Seriously impressive #onetowatch."

Related: Should juniors be allowed to play in adult competitions?

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Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!

Elliott is currently playing:

Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV