Simon Thornton
PHOTO : INPHO
Simon Thornton of Team Ireland is currently the best of the Irish players at The Celtic Manor Wales Open after signing for a 68 remaining three shots behind the overnight leader Chris Wood of England who carded a 65 at the Celtic Manor 2010 Course.
(-5) Bradley Dredge of Wales and Andre Dodt of Australia are the chasing pair one shot back on 5 under in second place.
(-3) Simon Thornton was 2 under reaching the sixth hole where he dropped one of the two shots he had picked up and dropped another to reach the turn in level par. Three birdies on the back nine pushed him up the leader board and the chance to break the cycle of missed cuts in his last four outings.
(-2) US Open qualifier, Gareth Maybin, continues to show form finishing two under after dropping the only shot in his round on the 16th hole carding three birdies in all for a 69 total.
Damien McGrane started on the 11th and dropped his first shot on the 13th hole which was recovered on the 15th to make the turn level par. Then two birdies on the homeward leg gave Kells man a 69 and a 2 under par total.
Darren Clarke was two shots to the good early on but dropped a shot to make the turn in 35 shots. Then two consecutive bogeys on 13 and 14 had the Dungannon man reaching the 16th hole with a work to do. But three birdies on 15, 17 and 18 put him to 2 under for the day.
(-1) Shane Lowry is one under after round one picking up a shot after making the turn in level par 36. The Clara man then traded 2 birdies and two bogeys to sign for a one under par 70.
(+1) Paul McGinley, who has been doing intensive physio and exercises for his knee before playing each day, dropped three shots with the major problem a double bogey on hole 13. Two birdies on the 15th and 16th however brought him back to one over for the day.
Graeme McDowell dropped a shot on the 8th hole and then went level after a birdie on the 11th. A double bogey on 13 brought left him one over par for the day.
Peter Lawrie was level par for seven holes – giving up three birdies by carding bogeys on holes 13, 14 and 17. On the back nine he dropped another shot to end the day one over par.
(+2) Gary Murphy was level par after three holes and then double bogeyed the par four 14th hole making the turn in three over par. But a fight back after a bogey on the first hole followed by consecutive birdies on holes 2, 3 and 5 brought him back to one over par. But a bogey on the last hole finished his round on a 2 over par 73.
