Simon Thornton

{{Infobox golfer

| name = Simon Thornton

| image = Simon Thornton.JPG

| imagesize = 200px

| caption = Thornton at the 2010 KLM Open

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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|3|18|df=y}}

| birth_place = Bradford, England

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| height = {{height|ft=6|in=0}}

| weight = {{convert|160|lb|kg st|abbr=on}}

| nationality = {{IRL}}

| residence = Newcastle, Northern Ireland

| spouse = {{marriage|Ciara|2004}}

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| college =

| yearpro = 2005

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| extour = European Tour
Challenge Tour
PGA EuroPro Tour

| prowins = 7

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| eurowins = 1

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| chalwins = 1

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| otherwins = 6

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}}

Simon Thornton (born 18 March 1977) is an Irish professional golfer. He won the 2013 Najeti Hotels et Golfs Open 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2008/11/13/thornton-close-to-tour-dream.html |title=Thornton close to Tour dream |publisher=Irish Golf Desk |first=Brian |last=Keogh |date=13 November 2008 |accessdate=18 June 2013}} 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.[http://pganorthernbranch.com/Edenmore%20UGA.html Edenmore Golf Club ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101107080036/http://pganorthernbranch.com/Edenmore%20UGA.html |date=November 7, 2010 }} 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 won the Najeti Hotels et Golfs Open in France, beating Tjaart van der Walt at the first hole on a sudden-death playoff.{{cite web |url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/irelands-simon-thornton-claims-first-ever-european-tour-title-29348741.html |title=Ireland's Simon Thornton claims first ever European Tour title |date=16 June 2013 |work=Irish Independent |accessdate=17 June 2013 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.thescore.ie/simon-thornton-st-omer-fathers-day-953891-Jun2013/ |title=Irish golfer Simon Thornton dedicates triumph to late dad on Father’s Day |date=16 June 2013 |work=The Score |access-date=17 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130620024408/http://www.thescore.ie/simon-thornton-st-omer-fathers-day-953891-Jun2013/ |archive-date=20 June 2013 |df= }} His win gave him an exemption of the European Tour until the end of 2014. 2014 was, however, a poor season and in 2015 he played a mixture of European Tour and Challenge Tour events but failed to retain his card on either tour.