By Kent Gray
They say you learn more from failure than success in golf but that was lukewarm comfort at best for Josh Hill as fell agonisingly short of glory on the Old Course.

The 17-year-old Trump Dubai member missed out on a playoff for the prestigious St Andrews Links Trophy title on Sunday by a solitary stroke. Englishman Jack Cope eventually claimed the crown with a -8, 280 aggregate after edging countryman Robin Williams and Scot George Burns in sudden-death.

Hill was one of six players to finish in a share of fourth place on 281. The MENA Tour winner had started the final 36-holes at the Home of Golf just a stroke back but made hard work for himself with a two-over-par 74 in the third round. He fought back gamely with a closing 69 but will now have to wait until the 126th Amateur Championship, starting at Nairn Golf Club on June 14, for his next chance to avenge the disappointment.

Writing on social media, Hill’s father relayed his son’s bittersweet feelings after a week that will at least see Hill Jnr’s World Amateur Golf Ranking improve from 313th place.

“He fell one short and is feeling happy but so annoyed as he feels “I left so many shots out there”,” Hill wrote on Instagram.

“It’s all lessons and when he is so used to leaving shots out there in the UAE and 95% of the time winning, you don’t learn the tough lessons. He has the opportunity to learn the tough lesson now.

“Anyway, I am super proud as he had a bit of a mare in the morning falling to 4 off the lead but still had it in him to come back and challenge for the title! Also mighty impressed that he is doing it caddieless! Super proud to be part of this journey!”

 

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A post shared by Russell Hill (@golf_osteo_path_dxb)

Cope, the reigning English Amateur Champion, started the final day five shots behind overnight leader Charlie Thornton but scored home with rounds of 70-67.

He eventually prevailed at the fourth extra hole after Cope and Williams both birdied the 1st to eliminate the Scotsman Burns. Cope and Williams then halved both the 18th and 1st before Cope won with a birdie, impressively driving the green on the most famous closing hole in golf for the second time in overtime.

Jack Cope is the 2021 St Andrews Links Trophy Champion!
After a marathon 4 hole play off he birdied the 18th twice after driving the green both times.
Full highlights will be on our YouTube channel this week
Congratulations Jack! #LinksTrophy pic.twitter.com/Flk0bPKfnV

— St Andrews Links (@TheHomeofGolf) June 6, 2021

“I was committed to every shot I hit out there over those four holes. I probably played the best I played all week tee to green. I guess that was a nice time to really peak,” Cope said.

“I love the home of golf. I particularly like the Old Course, mainly because I normally score alright round there which helps. Just walking over that bridge, taking photos, thinking about all the players who have won here and played here. This is very special to me.”

Photo courtesy Cope Family

The post Hill learns ‘tough lesson’ after falling agonisingly short of glory at St Andrews appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Josh Hill had hoped to slip under the media radar this UK summer, freeing himself of added pressure in his efforts to refine his pro-tour bound game and importantly reignite competitive embers dulled by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The only problem with that commendable plan is that the 17-year-old Dubai-based English Boys’ representative works far too hard and possesses way too much game to stay in stealth mode for long.

After a rare missed cut at the Scottish Men’s Open Championship at Southerness G.C. late last month, Hill’s name is back in lights and at the Home of Golf no less. The world record holder as the youngest winner of an OWGR event will enter the final day of the prestigious St Andrews Links Trophy on Sunday just one stroke off compatriot Charlie Thornton’s halfway pace.

After an opening-round 70 on the Jubilee course, Hill joined Ireland’s Richard Knightly on -6, 138 courtesy of a 68 in his second round on the Old Course on Saturday. It left the duo a shot shy of Thornton (66-71) heading into the final two rounds, both on the fabled Old Course.

Hill’s four-under circuit of golf’s spiritual birthplace was the second equal best score of Saturday’s second round and three strokes better than all but one player in the top-13.

That will undoubtedly give the MENA Tour winner confidence heading into what could be a pivotal and especially memorable Sunday of his amateur career. At worst, it is golden opportunity for Hill to skyrocket up the World Amateur Golf Rankings from his current position of 313th, down from career-best ranking of 257th.

The top 40 players and ties play the final round of the St Andrews Trophy which boasts former U.S. Open champion and Ryder Cup star Justin Rose among its former champions.

Established in 1989, the event is considered one of the world’s top amateur tournaments and has served as a launch pad for major championship-bound careers including Ernie Els, Trevor Immelman, Geoff Ogilvy, Padraig Harrington, Rose, Rory McIlroy and Francesco Molinari.  Lee Westwood is another former starter in an event that ranks as one of the strongest in the British Isles outside of The Amateur Championship, the 126th edition of which Hill intends contesting at Nairn, also in Scotland, from June 14.

The post Josh Hill eyes Old Course glory heading into final day of prestigious St Andrews Links Trophy appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Golf. So seductive and yet so frustratingly fickle.

There was Rayhan Thomas, skipping along at two-under through nine on the fabled Old Course and four-under for the first 27-holes of the prestigious St Andrews Links Trophy (after an opening 69 on the New Course) when wallop, the game decided a wee reminder of who is boss was needed.

From a top-10 position overnight and then just four shots off the pace, the 18-year-old somehow conspired to miss the cut as five bogeys in his last six holes saw the Dubai-based Indian international sign for a three over 75 to finish +1 for the championship – a shot shy of reaching Sunday’s final 36 holes.

Related content: Thomas thrilled by India call-up for 18th Asian Games

It was similar heartache to that Thomas suffered at last year’s Amateur Championship when he missed a four-footer to reach the matchplay phase of Britain’s premier amateur event.

Thomas will now reassess ahead of the 123rd staging of The Amateur to be held at Royal Aberdeen and Murcar Links from June 18-23. If the old golf adage about one learning more from a tough defeat than any win holds true, watch for the Dubai Creek and MENA Tour trailblazer to make a decent run in the North East of Scotland.

For the record, Laird Shepherd (Rye Golf Club), at -8 after rounds of 70 and 65, takes a one stroke lead into the final 36-holes of the St Andrews Links Trophy over John Murphy (Kinsale Golf Club). The top 40 players and ties made the cut; 43 players in total will play Sunday looking to emulate Justin Rose, the 1997 champion and thus far biggest name winner of the title.

Since its inception in 1989, the St Andrews Links Trophy has attracted the world’s leading amateurs, many of whom have gone on to enjoy success on the PGA and European Tours, notably Ernie Els, Lee Westwood, Trevor Immelman, Geoff Ogilvy, Padraig Harrington, Rose and Rory McIlroy.

The post From contending at St Andrews to suddenly missing the cut, Thomas banks another tough lesson appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Dubai-domiciled Indian international Rayhan Thomas has made an impressive – albeit topsy-turvy – start to his European summer campaign, firing himself into early contention at the prestigious St Andrews Links Trophy in Scotland.

The 18-year-old world amateur No. 28 signed for a two-under 69 on the New Course at the home of golf on Friday to share seventh place nearing the completion of the first round of the 72-hole strokeplay event.

Thomas was just two shots off the clubhouse lead set by England’s Olly Huggins after the Frilford Heath G.C. player also took advantage of the relatively benign conditions to card a four-under 67. Reigning MENA Tour amateur champion Todd Clements (ENG) opened with a 73.

Things could have been so much better for Thomas with the MENA Tour history-maker mixing an eagle and four birdies with four bogeys in his opening round.

“I hit the ball solid, just missed a couple of putts on the back nine but the worst I could have shot was two under today so I’m looking forward to tomorrow,” Thomas told GolfDigestME.com ahead of Saturday’s second round on the famed Old Course.

“I think the Old Course is a little tougher than the New Course but there are birdie opportunities, there’s a score out there so I can’t wait to get stuck in.”

Since its inception in 1989, the St Andrews Links Trophy has attracted the world’s leading amateurs, many of whom have gone on to enjoy success on the PGA and European Tours, notably Ernie Els, Lee Westwood, Trevor Immelman, Geoff Ogilvy, Padraig Harrington, Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy.

It is Thomas’ first time playing St Andrews and he’s clearly savouring the scared atmosphere plus the lofty position in the 144-strong field made up of scratch handicappers or better.

“It’s playing very fiery and very fast so it’s a new challenge but I love links golf, love St Andrews so it’s a good start. The preps gone well, I’ve been working on my bump and run, trying to keep everything low but the whether has actually been pretty good this week and today was really calm with just light winds.

“Light winds for St Andrews is a windy day in Dubai but it was a good day today.”

Thomas’ UK summer will also see him contest the 123rd Amateur Championship at Royal Aberdeen and Murcar Links from June 18-23. He cruelly missed the cut for the matchplay phase of the British amateur by a stroke last year but it did spur him to a historic semifinal showing at the 70th U.S. Junior Amateur.

Related content: Thomas thrilled by India call-up for 18th Asian Games

The post Thomas itching for Old Course bow after fine start to St Andrews Links Trophy appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The 18-year-old MENA Tour trailblazer has been selected to spearhead India’s four-man team at the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia in August and the world amateur No.17 is clearly humbled by the call-up for what is the continent’s answer to the two-week long, multi-sport Commonwealth Games.

“As an amateur golfer, it is my dream to represent India at the international level and competing in the Asian Games and wearing the Indian blazer means a lot,” the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club member told the Indian Express. “I played in Asia Pacific Amateur Championship and Nomura Cup for India earlier but when I tee off in the Asian Games, it will be different feeling for me and the whole family.”

Thomas’ father John put the call-up into further perspective by reflecting on the sacrifices the Dubai-based family have made to help their son become one of the best amateur golfers on the planet.

“To see him at the Asian Games opening ceremony will be the biggest reward for us.”

Rayhan Thomas in action at the 2017 Asia Pacific Amateur Championship at Royal Wellington G.C. in New Zealand. Photo Jamie Troughton.

The Asian Games golf tournament, a 72-hole individual and teams strokeplay event to be played at Pondok Indah Golf Club in Jakarta from August 23-26, plugs a gap in a busy summer schedule for Thomas.

He’ll tee it up in the St Andrews Links Trophy on the New and Old Courses from June 8-10 – Justin Rose won the title in 1997 – before contesting the 123rd Amateur Championship at Royal Aberdeen and Murcar Links from June 18-23. Thomas cruelly missed the cut for the matchplay phase of the British amateur by a stroke last year but it did spur him to a historic semifinal showing at the 70th U.S. Junior Amateur.

He’ll have a tilt at the 71st edition of the U.S. Junior Amateur at Baltusrol G.C. in Springfield, New Jersey (July 16-23) before looking to avenge his missed cut (by five strokes) at the prestigious 116th Western Amateur at Sunset Ridge Country Club in Northfield, Illinois from July 31-Aug. 4.

After the Asian Games, Thomas is set to represent India again at the Eisenhower Trophy (World Amateur Teams Championship) at Carton House near Dublin from Sept. 5-8 before returning to the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship at Sentosa G.C.in Singapore from Oct. 3-7. Thomas finished T-35 at last year’s Asia Pacific in New Zealand.

India has won three individual medals at previous Asian Games and Thomas, who has verbally committed to play collegiate golf for Rickie Fowler’s former Oklahoma State University Cowboys from 2019 till 2023, would like to be the fourth.

“I know I will not turn professional before that [finishing school in the U.S. in 2023]. So winning a medal in Indonesia will be more than winning a professional tour title. I am very excited about this opportunity.”

The post Thomas thrilled by India call-up for 18th Asian Games appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.