Bolger and Thornton share top prize

Jimmy Bolger (Kilkenny Golf Club) and Simon Thornton (Simon Thornton Golf) shared top prize at the St. Margaret's Laura Lynn PGA Pro Am.

Thornton and Bolger both carded rounds of five under par 68 at the Co. Dublin venue to hold off

reigning Irish PGA Champion Tim Rice (Limerick Golf Club) and Order of Merit leader, Damien McGrane.

Bolger went to the turn in three under par 33 with birdies at the third, eighth and ninth. Further birdies followed at the 12^th and 13^th but his momentum was halted by dropped shots at the 14^th and 15^th. However, the 50-year-old responded in style with back-to-back birdies at the par five 16^th and 17^th to come home in two under par 35.

Thornton started his round at the 10^th and went to the turn in three under par 34 with birdies at the 11^th, 12^th and 16^th. He added further birdies at the second and third before parring his way to the finish and a back nine of two under par 34.

It was Simon's sixth win of the season and has helped him to climb up to third in the Order of Merit standings, behind David Higgins and McGrane.

Brian McElhinney (North West Golf Club) and his amateur partners of Fran Dillon, Gerry Costelo and Shane Murphy collected the team prize with 94 points.