Thornton reigns at Balmoral

Simon Thornton grabbed the course record on route to victory at Balmoral Golf Club.

The Team Ireland professional fired a flawless six under par 63 to win the Fred Daly Memorial Pro-Am sponsored by Holiday Inn Belfast.

Thornton finished tied for 16^th at the NI Open Challenge Tour event last Sunday and left the tournament convinced his game was starting to come around.

The 38-year-old proved it at the Belfast venue, going to the turn in two under 33 with birdies at the first and seventh.

He reached three under for the day with another birdie at the 10^th before polishing off his round in emphatic style with birdies at the 16^th, 17^th and 18^th.

The in-form Neil O'Briain (Old Conna) was Thornton’s closest challenger, signing for a mistake free three under par 66.

Belfast boys Peter Martin (Colin Park GC) and Gary Wardlow (Spa) finished tied for third on two under par.

The PGA in Ireland Order of Merit leader Eamonn Brady was left to rue a quadruple-bogey nine at the par five 16^th.

Brady was six under at the time but unfortunately hit two balls out of bounds.

Glen Robinson partnered his amateur team to success in the pro-am event, finishing with 89 points.

A special mention to amateur Terry Gilmore who had a hole in one at the 11^th, and Harry Larkin who won the LowCard Fuel.ie prize for finishing nearest the pin at the 13^th.