Thornton earns three DP World Tour starts with podium finish at PGA Play-Offs
Simon Thornton, Tulfarris Touring Professional. Credit ©INPHO/James Crombie
Simon Thornton earned three DP World Tour starts when he finished a shot outside a playoff for the 54-hole PGA Play-Offs at PGA National Slieve Russell.
The Tulfarris professional closed with a two-under 70 to finish on six-under-par as Scotland’s Greig Hutcheon beat England’s Adam Keogh for the title at the second extra hole.
“There’s a lot of positives,” said Thornton, who earns starts in the Cazoo Open, the Cazoo Classic and the Scottish Hero Open.
“Six-under around this golf course without much competitive golf. I’m disappointed that I should’ve been a few more under par, but we’ll all have a story like that.
“Overall, I’ll go home and reflect over a glass of red and say it’s probably job done.”
David Higgins shot 71 to finish in a three-way tie for fourth in five-under as Hutcheon (49) shot 70 to force a playoff with Woodhall Spa professional Keogh, who fired a best-of-the-day, five-under 67 to set the target at seven-under.
The leading pair halved the first extra hole in ‘5’, but after Keogh failed to get up and down from the greenside bunker at the next, Hutcheon’s par proved enough to capture the prestigious title for the third time in his career and starts in seven DP World Tour events, including the BMW PGA at Wentworth, the Horizon Irish Open at Mount Juliet Estate and next week’s Betfred British Masters at The Belfry.
“It’s a great start to the year – I’ve just got to find some accommodation now for The Belfry,” said Hutcheon, who also earns starts in the Cazoo Open, the ISPS Handa World Invitational, the Cazoo Classic and Scottish Hero Open as well as the PGA of South Africa PGA Championship later this year.
“I get to play some of the big tour events now, which is a little bit daunting at my age, but you know what, as long as I can keep fit and keep flexible, I can still hit the ball reasonably well, so I fancy I might be able to make a few cuts.”
Runner-up Keogh earned four DP World Tour starts, including next week at The Belfry.
“It’s a disappointing way to lose, but I gave myself a chance to win the trophy. Where I was on Tuesday evening, we were nowhere near that,” said Keogh.
“But yeah, I’ve been told I’m into next week, so no rest for the wicked. I best sort that out with work first though!”
PGA Play-Offs, PGA National Slieve Russell (Par 72)
1 Greig Hutcheon Torphins Golf Club (p) -7 70 69 70 209 £3,500
2 Adam Keogh Woodhall Spa Golf Club -7 74 68 67 209 £2,500
3 Simon Thornton Tulfarris Golf Resort -6 68 72 70 210 £2,000
4 David Higgins Waterville Golf Links -5 70 70 71 211 £1,512
5 Michael Farrier-Twist Sedlescombe Golf Club -5 71 69 71 211 £1,512
T12 Richard Kilpatrick Banbridge Golf Club +3 73 75 71 219 £750
Top-three split 14 tour starts
BMW PGA Championship – Greig Hutcheon
British Masters – Greig Hutcheon/Adam Keogh
Irish Open – Greig Hutcheon
Cazoo Open – Greig Hutcheon/Adam Keogh/Simon Thornton
ISPS Handa World Invitational – Greig Hutcheon
Cazoo Classic – Greig Hutcheon/Adam Keogh/Simon Thornton
Scottish Hero Open – Greig Hutcheon/Adam Keogh/Simon Thornton
PGA of South Africa PGA Championship – Greig Hutcheon
