Thornton wins Celupast Corrstown Pro-Am; McDermott triumphs at Shannon
Simon Thornton
Stunning early summer weather was matched by some sparkling golf at the Celuplast Ltd Corrstown Pro-Am.
Simon Thornton fired a six under par 66 at the Dublin club to take first prize ahead of reigning Irish PGA champion, Niall Kearney, who carded a 67.
Thornton's round featured eight birdies and two bogeys, including a run of five birdies in a row from the second as he reached the turn in five under 31.
The 39-year-old made it to seven under with birdies at the par five 11th and 12th but he dropped shots at 14 and 15 before closing the back nine out with a birdie on 18.
Kearney, making his first appearance on the PGA in Ireland circuit in 2016, went to the turn in two under 34 with birdies at the sixth and eight.
He clicked into top gear after the turn, reeling off four birdies in a row, but dropped a shot at the 15th as he came home in three under 33.
Ciaran Molloy finished alone in third after a 68 with Noel Murray (Massereene GC) and Damien Mooney (Nevada Bob's Belfast) sharing fourth.
Headfort's Joe Dillon brought his amateur partners home in first place in the team event with 92 points, edging out Liam Bowler (Wexford GC) and Jimmy Bolger (Kilkenny GC) by a point.
Meanwhile, Michael McDermott (Pure Golf Leopardstown), jumped to the top of the PGA in Ireland Order of Merit by winning the Dr William Flynn Memorial Pro-Am in emphatic style at Shannon GC.
McDermott has made a really strong start to the season, finishing second at the Seafield Pro-Am and losing out to David Higgins (Waterville Links) in a play-off for the Irish Club Professional title.
He made no mistakes at Shannon, firing a six under par 66 to win by four shots. Out in two under 36, the 35-year-old came home in four under 30, with the highlight of his round coming at the par four 13th when he holed out with his approach for an eagle two.
David Foley (Dromoland Castle), Glen Robinson, Jimmy Bolger (Kilkenny GC), Joe Dillon (Headfort GC), Ciaran Molloy (Blackwood GC) and Neil O'Briain (Old Conna GC) finished tied for second on two under par.
Foley and amateur partners powered to success in the team event with 80 points.
Celuplast Ltd Corrstown Pro-Am, Corrstown GC
1 Simon Thornton -6
2 Niall Kearney -5
3 Ciaran Molloy (Blackwood GC) -4
T4 Noel Murray (Massereene Golf Club), Damian Mooney (Nevada Bobs Belfast) -3
T6 B McCormack (Edenderry Golf Academy), D Ryan (Cahir Park GC), M McGeady (Foyle GC), A Hogan (Edmondstown GC), L Bowler (Wexford GC), B McElhinney (North West GC), N O'Briain (Old Conna GC) -2
Dr William Flynn Memorial Pro-Am, sponsored by TaylorMade, Shannon GC
1 M McDermott (Pure Golf Leopardstown) -6
T2 D Foley (Dromoland Castle GC), G Robinson, J Bolger (Kilkenny GC), J Dillon (Headfort GC), C Molloy (Blackwood GC), N. O'Briain (Old Conna GC) -2
8 D McGrane -1
T9 B. McGovern (Headfort GC), D Mooney (Nevada Bobs Belfast), P. McGrath (P & M Golf Superstore Ltd) lvl
