Simon Thornton
| Simon Thornton | |
|---|---|
| — Golfer — | |
 Thornton at the 2010 KLM Open | |
| Personal information | |
| Born |
18 March 1977 Bradford, England |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight | 160 lb (73 kg; 11 st) |
| Nationality |
 Ireland |
| Residence | Newcastle, Northern Ireland |
| Spouse | Ciara (m. 2004) |
| Career | |
| Turned professional | 2005 |
| Former tour(s) |
European Tour Challenge Tour |
| Professional wins | 4 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| European Tour | 1 |
| Other | 3 |
Simon Thornton (born 18 March 1977) is an Irish professional golfer who plays on the European Tour.
Career
Thornton was a late starter to golf, only taking up the sport in his late teens and turning professional at the advanced age of 28.[1] He began as an assistant club professional at Royal County Down, playing in regional Irish PGA events, where his achievements included recording four straight monthly wins with the Ulster Golfers Alliance.[2] He began playing on the Challenge Tour in 2009, finishing 51st before earning his European Tour card at qualifying school at the end of the season. His debut season on the full tour was unsuccessful, and he returned to the Challenge Tour for 2011, finishing in 12th position to secure a quick return to the European Tour. In June 2013 he claimed his first win on the European Tour with victory at the Najeti Hotels et Golfs Open in France.[3][4]
Professional wins (4)
European Tour wins (1)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 Jun 2013 | Najeti Hotels et Golfs Open | –5 (74-70-65-70=279) | Playoff |  Tjaart van der Walt |
European Tour playoff record (1–0)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2013 | Najeti Hotels et Golfs Open | Tjaart van der Walt |
Won with par on first extra hole |
Other wins (3)
- 2005 Ulster PGA Championship
- 2008 Bovey Castle Championship (PGA EuroPro Tour)
- 2011 Irish PGA Championship
See also
References
- ↑ Keogh, Brian (13 November 2008). "Thornton close to Tour dream". Irish Golf Desk. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
- ↑ Edenmore Golf Club Archived November 7, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "Ireland's Simon Thornton claims first ever European Tour title". Irish Independent. 16 June 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
- ↑ "Irish golfer Simon Thornton dedicates triumph to late dad on Father's Day". The Score. 16 June 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
External links
- Simon Thornton at the European Tour official site
- Simon Thornton at the Official World Golf Ranking official site