Thornton bests Kilpatrick in Southern Championship playoff
IRELAND’S clubs professionals showed they’re a talented bunch when it took a pair of sensational 63s to make a playoff for the PGA Southern Championship at Rathsallagh last week
Simon Thornton birdied the first playoff hole to edge out Banbridge’s Richard Kilpatrick to win the event on a day of low scoring at the Co. Wicklow venue,
The Tulfarris Golf Resort professional, a former European Tour winner, tied with Kilpatrick and topped the leaderboard after both men shot nine-under par 63s at an event postponed by a week due to the arrival of Storm Ali.
“To be fair I missed a few chances but obviously holed a few,” said Thornton. “When I signed the card, well, to be honest, I kind of thought to myself I will just have to wait around here for the prize giving.
“And then 10 minutes later Richard comes in behind me with the same score!”
The players made the most of the benign conditions with Thornton making nine birdies in an immaculate round.
Kilpatrick dropped a shot at the first but responded with a 10 birdie barrage over his remaining 17 holes to force sudden-death.
The leading duo headed to the par four 18th for the playoff with Thornton winning the coin toss and finding the fairway with his drive.
Kilpatrick’s tee shot found the rough and he was forced to pitch back out on to the fairway with his second while Thornton’s approach finished 15 feet from the pin.
Kilpatrick’s third shot to the green left him with 20 feet for par and when he missed, Simon had two putts for the win but managed to slot the ball home for an emphatic birdie finish.
Headfort’s Joe Dillon finished in third with an eight-under 64, which is his lowest round on the Irish Region circuit, while Craddockstown’s Glen Robinson was fourth after a 65 and Glasson’s Colm Moriarty fifth with a 67. PGA Southern Championship, Rathsallagh Golf Club (Par 72):
63 Simon Thornton (Tulfarris Golf Resort), Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge GC) Thornton won with birdie at first extra hole; 64 Joe Dillon (Headfort GC); 65 Glen Robinson (Craddockstown GC); 66 Colm Moriarty (Glasson Hotel & GC); 67 David Higgins (Waterville Golf Links); 68 Jerry Scullion (J Scullion Golf).