Thornton wins at Charlesland

Simon Thornton, the assistant to Kevan Whitson at Royal County Down, steered a steady course through the heavy showers and windy conditions at Charlesland to win the Kellogg's PGA Irish Assistants' Championship title.

Thornton began the day one stroke adrift of overnight leaders Michael Collins (Cork) and Colin McElderry (Royal County Down) and carded a four-over-par 76 in the third round.

Defending champion David Ryan (Cork) moved up the leader board to first place with a 73 but failed to last the pace.

As Ryan slid out to an afternoon 76, Thornton produced a level-par-72 to snatch the title with just one stroke to spare over Ryan, Tristan Mulally (Royal Portrush) and Mark Heinemann (Killarney).

McElderry slumped down the leaderboard with rounds of 77 and 80 in the difficult conditions.

KELLOGG'S PGA IRISH ASSISTANTS' CHAMPIONSHIP AT CHARLESLAND

294 (+6) - S Thornton (Royal County Down) 75,71,76,72.

296 - T Mullaly (Royal Portrush) 72,78,72,74; D Ryan (Cork) 72,75,73,76; M Heinemann (Killarney) 75,71,77,73.

297 - R Symes (Lisburn) 73,76,74,74; M Collins (Charleville) 74,71,77,75.

298 - G Robinson (Wexford) 76,75,75,72.

299 - M Jones (Portmarnock) 76,74,74,75.

300 - A Thomas (Old Conna) 76,72,82,70.

302 - JP Dolan (Charleville) 73,75,80,84; C McElderry (Royal County Down) 72,73,77,80.

303 - B Kelleher (Ballybunion) 80,74,74,75.