Thornton's resilience delivers victory

Shane Thornton’s showed Rory McIlroy-like resilience to win the Singles Stableford competition held over the weekend of April 12 and 13.
Playing off 16, he was going very well having earned 32pts after 13 holes but a double bogey six at the index 18 14th hole threaten to derail his round.
But he immediately responded with three successive three-point pars on the difficult 15th, 16th and 17th holes and a two point bogey on the last for an 11pt haul over the final four holes. That saw him come in 19pts and having gone out in an impressive 24pts to post a score of 43pts which was not matched.
His opening nine, which was bookended by three point pars at the first and ninth, included two four point birdies at the third and fifth and a three point birdie at the index 17 sixth.  
Andrew Nordon (33) shot 42pts and took the runners-up spot after edging out Eoghan McKenna (6) and Johannes Steenvoorden (26) on countback, McKenna claimed the Division 1 honours from Ultan Gaughran (12) while Steenvoorden (26) won Division 3 by one point from Graham Purcell (19).
Pat Donaghy (16) won Division 2 by a single point from Billy Curran (18) and was helped by the five points he earned on the par three 17th when he holed his seven wood tee shot for his first ever hole-in-one.
Saturday, 12 April and Sunday, 13 April - Singles Stableford – Overall: Shane Thornton (16) 43pts, Andrew Nordon (33) 42/23pts. Division 1: Eoghan McKenna (6) 42/19/12pts, Ultan Gaughran (12) 41pts. Division 2: Patrick Donaghy (16) 41pts, Billy Curran (18) 40pts. Division 3: Johannes Steenvoorden (26) 42/19/13pts. Graham Purcell (19) 41pts. Gross Recognition: Eoghan McKenna (6) 36pts.