YORKSHIRE exile Simon Thornton was on course to earn PGA Europro Tour membership after the first round of the final qualifying school at Frilford Heath, Oxfordshire yesterday.
Thornton, based in Ireland at Royal County Down, shot 68 in the two-day event to stand one off the lead.
Leading scores – Red Course: 67 - I Lyner (The Leicestershire), J Moul (Stoke by Nayland). 68 - S Ritchie (Farrington), A Smith (Chart Hil
ls), S Thornton (Royal County Down). Other Yorkshire scores: 69 - M Marsh (Hallowes).72 - J Sibbles (Hollins Hall), J Ashworth (American Golf, York), D Sturgeon (Hallowes). 73 - T Curtis (Pannal), C Clarke (Wath), D Thomas (Baildon). 74 - M Skelton (Wynyard). 79 - R Hillas (Northcliffe).
Blue Course: 67 - C McCallman (Scotland). 68 - K Brown (unatta), J Bevitt (DCS). Yorkshire scores: 71 - R Muggleston (Lindrick). 74 - T Robinson (Wynyard). 75 - A Town (Hollins Hall), G Jackson (Garforth). 78 - W Fox (Hindhead). 85 - A Bradley (Doncaster).
l HOLLINS Hall won the Bradford Alliance Team championship at Keighley yesterday, their four-man team posting 101 stableford points in an event in which all team members' scores counted on the five short holes, the best three on two par fives and best two on 11 par fours.
Leading scores: 101- Hollins Hall: M Hawksworth (13), J Morris (18), C Howe (3), J Smith (5). 99 - The Manor: P Pilgrim (5), M Weighman (plus 1), G Weighman (12), L Weighman (9). 97 - Woodhall Hills: G Pickard (8), J Torbett (5), C Varley (9), N Robinson (6); Calverley: D Littlewood (scr), M Guest (4), A Coulson (17), N Stacey (18).
The full article contains 267 words and appears in EP Leeds First & County newspaper.
