Remember Ryo Ishikawa? The Japanese phenomenon who played in the penultimate group on Saturday at the 2010 US Open as an 18-year-old? Among his other precocious accomplishments, Ishikawa is also the youngest player to ever win a professional tournament that awards Official World Golf Ranking points. Make that was the youngest.
Yesterday, Josh Hill broke Ishikawa’s record that had stood since 2007. Hill’s win at the Al Ain Open on the MENA Tour came at 15 years, six months and 27 days, edging Ishikawa’s mark of 15 years and eight months. The Official World Golf Ranking was created in 1986 – or 18 years before Hill was born.
The Dubai-based Brit claimed the three-round event in Abu Dhabi at 17-under par, firing a final-round 62 to win by two shots. Here’s a look at Hill putting out on the final hole:
Josh Hill is our Al Ain Open by Arena champion! He wins by two shots after a superb final round of 8-under par 62.@HarryEllisGolf is second and the leading professional at 15-under par.
Ben Schlottman and amateur Curtis Knipes are T3 at -13. pic.twitter.com/N0y3kENb6N— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) October 23, 2019
That’s a pretty calm reaction for someone making history. Talk about acting like you’ve been there before.
This is incredible!
We can now confirm that at age 15 years six months and 27 days, Josh Hill is the youngest winner ever in an @OWGRltd event beating Ryo Ishikawa’s record of 15 years and 8 months.
Won the Al Ain Open by Arena at @AESGC today on 17-under par. pic.twitter.com/oNXer2mICP
— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) October 23, 2019
And the amateur certainly has the tour-pro white-pants look down already. Count Nick Faldo among those impressed with the young man’s performance.
https://twitter.com/NickFaldo006/status/1187017899149594624
Coincidentally, Ishikawa, who recently turned 28, will be making his PGA Tour return this week with the inaugural Zozo Championship, the first official PGA Tour event in Japan. Ishikawa last played in a PGA Tour event at the 2017 Wyndham Championship.
