Richard Kilpatrick made it back-to-back wins on the PGA in Ireland circuit as a four-under 67 gave him a one-stroke win over Simon Thornton in the Total Splicing Solutions Donegal Pro-Am.
The Banbridge man’s hot streak began at Luttrellstown on Wednesday where he birdied none of the 18 holes and claimed victory at -7, and after a one-under 72 in the opening round at Murvagh, he made the most of his early start in round two and came out all guns blazing.
Beginning on the 10th hole, he went birdie-birdie-eagle-birdie to shoot to the top of the leaderboard, overtaking first-round leader Niall Kearney who fell victim to a cold putter and a little misfortune.
With Thornton not due to tee off until the afternoon, Kilpatrick now had the chance to post an intimidating target as the wind began to slowly increase.
A tricky patch saw him drop three shots in the space of five holes either side of the turn, but a birdie at the first kept him in a share of the lead. The key moment came on the par-5 sixth where a monstrous drive and a flushed 5-iron saw him on the back edge and the 50-footer down the hill was inch perfect and dropped for his second eagle of the day.
Despite bogeying the last, he was very satisfied with his five-under tally and began the long wait to see whether Thornton or any of the afternoon starters could better it.
One-by-one, the potential challengers slipped away as conditions worsened, leaving it a two-horse race between the players ranked first and third on the Elavon Order of Merit.
Thornton, the reigning Order of Merit champion and current leader, eventually came up one shy with a 10-foot birdie putt at the last breaking low to finish the round on +1 and the tournament on -4.
“It was the start of dreams,” Kilpatrick said after finishing the round. “It’s such a tough course. The rough is very thick and very punishing at times. I had two drives that I missed the fairway and had to hit sideways, so you’ve got to be careful at times and be aggressive when you feel comfortable.
“The eagle on six. I must admit that to me that was a perfect eagle. I had a great drive, I had a fantastic second shot, and I had a putt that went in stone dead.
“It wasn’t a lucky one, it was three great shots that I’ll always remember.”
Later, when victory was confirmed, he acknowledged that he had been the beneficiary of a slightly more favourable side of the draw, but was delighted to get the win in what he hailed as one of the best Pro-Ams on the circuit.
“It’s absolutely class to get the win in the professional event and then to do it with the team as well,” he said. “To win events like this, you need things to go your way a little and there were a couple of heavy showers late but it was two great days and I couldn’t wish for better.”
Thornton, who is also serving as PGA Captain and was recently confirmed as a PGA Cup selection for the match between the PGA Professionals of Great Britain and Ireland against those of the United States, was disappointed to have come up one shy but happy with the way he’d played.
“That’s two-round events and links golf,” he said. “I suppose it can change within an hour or so, but I played great… When I look back on the way home tonight, I’ll be happy that I played well.”
There was cause for celebration in the Thornton household nevertheless as he received word mid-way through the round that his son Ryan, who caddied for him in victory at last year’s Irish PGA Championship, recorded his first ever hole-in-one.
“Yeah, his first hole-in-one on the eighth hole on the Annesley Links at Royal County Down, so he’s delighted with that.”
There was also hole-in-one news at Donegal Golf Club as Bundoran’s Matthew Dunmore, whose brother Adam has recently taken over as the new Head Pro at the host club, made a hole-in-one on the fifth hole.
“It was a nice 8-iron,” Dunmore said. “I knew it was on a good line, but I didn’t see it go in. One of the other lad’s balls was close too, so we checked the hole and there it was. It was a good one to get.
“It’s my second, and always good to get one in a tournament too.
“And I don’t think Adam has had one here yet so it’s nice to get one over him too.”
The trio of Niall Kearney, Michael McGeady and Joe Dillon shared third at -2, and they, along with Kilpatrick and Thornton, were the only five players in red figures at the end of the 36 holes.
Kilpatrick had double cause for celebration as he was part of the winning team overall, with the Westport trio of Ben Walsh, Sean Walsh and Dave Stapleton who posted scores of 93 and 90 to win by three points over Joe Dillon, of Joe Dillon Golf Academy, Brian Dunner, John Clarke and Chris Clarke.
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