Calum Hill, fresh from his win in the Challenge Tour’s Northern Ireland Open 10 days ago, has become the latest promising Scots professional to join the Bounce Sport stable.
The 23-year-old won his first Challenge Tour title in only his fifth event since returning from the USA at Galgorm Castle, thereby securing a category to play on the European Tour’s satellite circuit.
Bounce Sport, the Edinburgh-based management group who have Stephen Gallacher on their books, had helped the former Muckhart and Kinross club member with some invitations but they have now formalised their partnership.
The group, led by Iain Stoddart, already act for a number of the promising young group of Scots on the Challenge Tour, including Grant Forrest, Ewen Ferguson, Robert MacIntyre and Jack McDonald, and approached Hill after he indicated he was coming back to Europe after six years in the USA.
Hill had graduated with honours from the University of Western New Mexico before turning professional, winning the San Juan Open and the Arizona Open before coming through all levels of qualifying to play all four rounds of this year’s US Open at Shinnecock Hills.
“After Shinnecock Iain approached me and explained how they might be able to help me get a foothold in Europe, and of course I jumped on that opportunity,” he said.
“I’d delighted to have signed on with them. They were brilliant for me in getting those opportunities to play on the Challenge Tour and I was able to make the most of one of them.
“It is great to know that, at the very least, I have a Challenge Tour card for not only the rest of this season but next year as well, and I am excited for what lies ahead.
“It’s been great to contribute to what’s been a great season for Scots players on the Challenge Tour so far, and my aim now is to stay in the top 45 on the tour and secure a place in the Grand Final at Ras Al Khaimah.
“That would get me a place in the final stage of the European Tour Qualifying School, and I’m pleased that my decision to come home rather than staying in the States is paying off.”
Stoddart, a founding partner of Bounce, said he had been delighted help Calum and was not surprised by his early success.
“It’s been a fantastic few weeks for Calum culminating in his exciting win in Northern Ireland which are happy to have played a small part in,” he said.
“All our guys have had some success on the Challenge Tour this season and Calum is a great addition as we continue our strategy of helping some of the country’s top talent get to where they want to go in the game.”
