SIMPLE FOR SIMON AS THORNTON MAKES IT THREE-WAY TIE AT SAINT OMER GOLF CLUB
REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Simon Thornton carded the first hole in one of his professional career on the way to a stunning six under par 65 as the Irishman moved into a three-way tie for the lead going into the final day of the Najeti Hotels et Golfs Open presented by Neuflize OBC.
Simon Thornton carded the first hole in one of his professional career on the way to a stunning six under par 65 as the Irishman moved into a three-way tie for the lead going into the final day of the Najeti Hotels et Golfs Open presented by Neuflize OBC.
In
very high winds but clear skies at Aa Saint Omer Golf Club, Thornton
holed out with a perfect seven iron tee shot at the 206-yard par three
11th which was greeted with cheers from
the spectators and high fives from his playing partners.
That
came just two holes after an eagle at the ninth hole as he made an
almighty push up the leaderboard, climbing 34 places to the top on four
under par alongside South African Tjaart Van der
Walt and local favourite Baptiste Chapellan.
Indeed,
the former Assistant Pro at Royal County Down Golf Club came
agonisingly close to equalling the course record of 64, but his eight
foot birdie putt at the last slid just by the left
of the hole. Nevertheless, the 36 year old was delighted with how he
played as he vies for a maiden European Tour title.
“That
was obviously pretty good stuff,” said Thornton, who was six shots off
the lead before Round Three. “I just played really well, hit some good
shots and in weather like that you just have
to keep straight and that’s what I do well.
“I
was making greens and giving myself chances and I managed to take them
today. The weather suits me, I like playing in a breeze. There were
times when you could have hit any one of five clubs
because the wind was so unpredictable, but you just have to pick one
and trust it.
“I
holed about a 30-footer for eagle at the ninth and then the hole in one
- I was in between a seven iron and an eight iron and I hit a nice
smooth seven and it was all over the flag, one big
bounce and it just rolled in. It was really good shot.
“There were a few high fives and shouts, it was my first one in a professional tournament so I was delighted.
“I
was happier about the way I played 12 actually, because it’s breezy and
the blood can rush to your head a little after the hole in one, but I
hit a lovely drive there and hit to a few feet
and holed it for birdie so that carried on the momentum.”
Van
der Walt looked to be heading into a three shot lead entering
championship Sunday in northern France but a double-bogey at the 16th followed immediately by a bogey at the 17th
meant he had to settle for a level par 71 to remain on four under par for the tournament.
Chapellan,
who is making just his sixth appearance on The European Tour, was
boosted by a significant following on home soil as he signed for a two
under 69, while Englishman Seve Benson was
a shot back in fourth place after carding a one under par 70 to move to
three under for the tournament.
THIRD ROUND TOTALS
Par 213 (3x71)
209 B Chapellan (Fra) 72 68 69, T Van Der Walt (RSA) 67 71 71, S Thornton (Irl) 74 70 65,
210 S Benson (Eng) 75 65 70,
211 M Glauert (Ger) 77 65 69, V Riu (Fra) 68 71 72, C Lloyd (Eng) 73 68 70,
212 R Dinwiddie (Eng) 72 66 74, P Edberg (Swe) 74 69 69, J Elson (Eng) 75 69 68,
213 J Huldahl (Den) 73 67 73, A Domingo (Esp) 74 71 68, B Koepka (USA) 75 70 68,
214 D Im (USA) 73 72 69, A Pavan (Ita) 74 70 70, M Jonzon (Swe) 74 70 70,
215
S Henry (Sco) 72 69 74, G Shaw (Nir) 76 69 70, J Walters (RSA) 71 69
75, M Lundberg (Swe) 73 71 71, F Calmels (Fra) 73 71 71, A Kaleka
(Fra) 73 71 71, D Gaunt (Aus) 70 70 75, D Vancsik (Arg) 73 67 75, R
Davies (Wal) 77 67 71,
216
S Wakefield (Eng) 71 68 77, R McEvoy (Eng) 71 71 74, C Hanson (Eng) 71
68 77, T Hatton (Eng) 75 67 74, E Dubois (Fra) 71 74 71, D Brooks (Eng)
69 71 76,
217 J Lima (Por) 74 71 72, A Snobeck (Fra) 76 69 72, S Kim (Kor) 73 71 73, J Lando Casanova (Fra) 73 72 72,
218
Å Nilsson (Swe) 71 74 73, F Praegant (Aut) 73 70 75, A Marshall (Eng)
74 68 76, G Orr (Sco) 73 71 74, C Brazillier (Fra) 75 70 73, L Goddard
(Eng) 75 67 76, C Russo (Fra) 73 72 73, M Korhonen (Fin) 74 70 74, T
Nørret (Den) 75 69 74,
C Suneson (Esp) 72 71 75,
219
B Hebert (Fra) 74 68 77, G Stal (Fra) 75 68 76, G Boyd (Eng) 76 68
75, A Forsyth (Sco) 73 70 76, A Tadini (Ita) 73 71 75, J Garcia Pinto
(Esp) 73 68 78, J Dantorp (Swe) 73 70 76, D Perrier (Fra) 77 66 76, T
Pilkadaris (Aus) 71 72
76, M Decottignies-Lafon (am) (Fra) 75 69 75,
220 G Houston (Wal) 74 70 76, R Kakko (Fin) 72 71 77, O Floren (Swe) 72 71 77,
221
T Fournier (Fra) 71 71 79, R Quiros (Esp) 75 70 76, P Dwyer (Eng) 73
70 78, J McLeary (Sco) 75 70 76, T Remkes (Ned) 75 70 76,
222 S Little (Eng) 74 70 78, P Maddy (Eng) 72 72 78,
223 T Murray (Eng) 75 70 78,
225 M Crespi (Ita) 75 68 82, L Weber (Fra) 75 70 80,
EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Labels: CHALLENGE TOUR
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