Thornton and Higgins tops in Aviva Castlewarden Pro-Am
(Left to right) David Higgins, Aviva representative Colin Ryan, and Simon Thornton
Simon Thornton and Waterville's David Higgins shared top billing at the Aviva Castlewarden Pro-Am.
The duo carded rounds of five-under par 67 to win by a shot from Irish PGA champion, Tim Rice and take home €825 each.
The joint winners couldn't have had more different days with Higgins making five birdies in his bogey-free round as Thornton made an eagle, six birdies and three bogeys.
Out in one under par 36 with a birdie at the ninth, Higgins birdied the 10th and 11th and then added further birdies at the 16th and 18th to come home in four-under par 31.
Thornton's six-birdie round featured an eagle three at the eighth and bogeys at the third, fourth and 13th as he went to the turn in two-under par 35 before coming home in three-under par 33.
Higgins also collected the team prize by guiding his amateur partners of Brad Flynn, Andy Callanan and Olly Lawlor to a victory with 89 points.
The ladies' longest drive prize went to Clodagh Walsh with Thomas O'Neill collecting the men's equivalent as Andy Callanan won nearest the pin.
The Aviva Castlewarden Pro Am, Castlewarden Golf & CC (Par 72):
67 David Higgins (Waterville Golf Links), Simon Thornton (Simon Thornton Golf);
68 Tim Rice (Limerick GC);
69 Steven Quinlan (Halpenny GC), Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge GC);
70 Shane Jenkinson (St Margaret’s Golf & CC), Josh Adams (Stackstown GC), Daniel O’Connor (Athlone GC), David Ryan (Cahir Park GC), Damien McGrane, Colm Moriarty (Drive Golf Performance Ltd).
