Simon Thornton continued his blistering run of form as he clinched his third victory on the PGA in Ireland season at the Vermilion Energy Pro-Am at Carne Golf Links.
Thornton carded rounds of 68 and 69 for a seven-under total which was good enough for a one shot win over Brian McElhinney who ran the PGA in Ireland captain close with a superb closing 66.
Thornton wasn’t to be denied however, and the former European Tour winner completed a wire to wire victory. It was a clinical display of front running on Sunday as he played the front nine in 33.
He took advantage of the early par fives with birdies on the first and fourth before adding two more on the 6th and the par-5 9th to take control.
Ahead of him though, North West’s McElhinney was putting the squeeze on. A scintillating front nine of 32 which included birdies on the 2nd, 6th, 7th and an eagle on the par-5 4th kept him in touch.
Thornton slowed up with a bogey on the par-5 10th after McElhinney had birdied 10 and 15 to get to seven-under on the day and move one clear before he bogeyed the last to settle for a six-under total.
Thornton rallied with a birdie at the par-3 16th to give himself a two shot cushion and he could afford to drop a shot on 17.
Condor.ie man Colm Moriarty, Richard Kilpatrick of Banbridge, Castle’s Ian Halpin and Lough Erne’s Damian Mooney shared third place on three-under-par.
Former Irish PGA champion when it was hosted at Carne, David Higgins, claimed solo 7th on one-under after a closing 69 to round off the players in red figures.
Scoring HERE
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