Thornton lurking at PGA Playoffs; Ireland nine back in Greece
Tulfarris Resort’s Simon Thornton
Tulfarris Resort's Simon Thornton is just one stroke off the lead heading into the final round of the PGA Playoffs at Antalya Golf Club's PGA Sultan Course.
English duo Matthew Cort and David Dixon lead on five-under-par with Thornton tied for third with Scotland's Alastair Forsythe after a second round 69.
Waterville's David Higgins shot a three-over 74 to share 10th on level par with Michael McGeady tied 17th on two-over after a 72 in an event where the top three will earn automatic spots on next year's GB&I PGA Cup team.
The top two qualify for the 2019 British Masters while the first four get spots in next the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth next September.
In Greece, Ireland's Damian Mooney, Headfort's Joe Dillon and Glasson's Colm Moriarty are tied for eighth, nine shots behind Germany, heading into the final round of the International Team Championship at Costa Navarino.
Mooney shot 72 and Moriarty a 70 in a level par third round 142 (Dillon’s 81 was discarded), leaving Ireland on five-over par.
“Hopefully tomorrow we will dovetail properly and get a low score,” said captain Mooney. “We have made a few birdies between us but we have dropped too many shots.”
At the European Tour's Honma Hong Kong Open, England's Aaron Rai, Australian Jason Scrivener and Japan's Yusaku Miyazato opened with five-under 65s to lead by a shot from Jack Singh Brar and American Micah Shin.
Tommy Fleetwood shot a one-under 69, but Masters champion Patrick Reed struggled to a five-over 75.
