Thornton leads Irish PGA after opening 66 at Monkstown
Former tour winner Simon Thornton opened with a four under 66 at Monkstown in his bid for a fourth Irish PGA Championship victory.
Champion in 2011, 2018 and 2020, he made an eagle, three birdies and a bogey to lead by a shot from Foyle’s Brendan McCarroll and by two from Newlands’ Steven Quinlan.
Defending champion Niall Kearney, who is also seeking his fourth win in the event, shot 71 to share 15th.
Irish Professional Championship, sponsored by Brown & Brown Insurance Brokers, Monkstown GC (Par 70)
Round one
66 (-4) 1. S Thornton (STGolf)
67 (-3) 2. B McCarroll (Foyle)
68 (-2) 3. S Quinlan (Newlands)
69 (-1) T4. G Robinson (Craddockstown), S Bleakley (Knock), E Tracey (Ballina), R Kilpatrick (Banbridge)
70 (E) T8. C Coyne (Cobh), C Muir (Bandon), T Rice (Limerick), C Moriarty (Glasson Lakehouse), C Sharvin (Elm Park), R O'Donovan, P Eivers (Cahir Park)
71 (+1) T15. S O'Donoghue (Mount Wolseley), M Riordan (Co. Tipperary), M McDermott (Grange), C Geraghty (Dundalk), N Kearney (The Eddie Doyle)
72 (+2) T20. E Byrne (EB Golf), D Sugrue (Dooks), C McNamara (Monkstown), J Bolger (Kilkenny), K Shannon (Cloverhill)
73 (+3) T25. J Dillon (Joe The Pro), W O'Callaghan (Wayne O'Callaghan), C O'Gorman (Co. Tipperary), D Mernagh (Enniscorthy), J McClean (Blackwood), J O'Riordan (Old Conna), M McGeady (Michael McGeady), D Higgins (Waterville), N Grant (Nicky Grant), N O'Briain (Roganstown)
74 (+4) T35. C Purcell (Mount Wolseley), C Maguire (Douglas), B Kerley (Ardee), P Behan (Black Bush), C Ryan (McGuirks Dublin 18), D Mooney (Lough Erne)
75 (+5) T41. T Broderick (Kinsale), R Giles (AG Tee), P Geraghty (Druids Glen), N Murray, S McDonagh (Royal Dublin), B McGovern (Headfort), C McDonnell (Killarney)
76 (+6) T48. E O'Brien (Clontarf), S Franklin (Portumna), M Dunmore (Bundoran), R Connolly (McCormack - Tullamore), K Lynch (Skibbereen & West Carbery), K McDermott (Delgany), G McGrane, T Delaney, J McDermott (Grange), P Dooley (Drive Performance) , D Ryan (East Cork), J Quinlivan (Mullingar), E Doyle (The Eddie Doyle), T Higgins (Rathsallagh), J Bolger (St Margaret's).
WD: R Brady (Balbriggan), G Broderick (Kinsale), M Butterly (Island), J Byrne (Woodenbridge), L Campbell (Royal County Down), T Canavan (Glenlo Abbey), J Casey (McGuirks Tralee), K Clancy (Portmarnock), N Cunningham, D Gleeson (Old Conna), A Hanlon, D Hinds (Castleknock), J Kane (S D), M Kempton (Moyola Park), D McGrane (Carlow), S O'Connor (McGuirks Blanchardstown), A Reilly-Kelly (Rathfarnham), D Rock (Ballykisteen), D Tierney (Galway), B Walton (Jameson Links Portmarnock)
Key:
E = Even par
WD = Withdrawn
WD = Withdrawn
