Thornton lifts title but misses out on perfection

DESPITE a fabulous win in the 101st PGA Irish Championship at Seapoint, county Louth, there was a tinge of disappointment in Simon Thornton’s voice after the awards ceremony.

Thornton fired a 19-under-par 269 to win by six strokes from Gary Murphy, having carded just one bogey all week.

“I’m disappointed at dropping that shot as I was aiming for a bogy-free tournament and also to finish 20-under-par,” he said. “When I put my nine iron approach into a bunker and didn’t get up and down for par both my aims were gone. Still, I’m delighted to have won.”

It was a trap-to-line win for Thornton, who led by three strokes over Des Smyth at the halfway stage.