Thornton holds all the aces in Saint Omer

Simon Thornton has a share of the lead through three rounds in St Omer ©Getty ImagesSimon 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, writes the European Tour.

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.”

Lurgan’s Gareth Shaw is five shots off the pace after a 70.

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.

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