WITH THIS WIN - SIMON THORNTON
• His first European Tour International Schedule victory in his 59th European Tour event.
• Moves to €83,330 in The Race to Dubai.
• Moves to just outside the top 300 from 753rd in the Official World Golf Ranking.
• His victory beats his previous best European Tour performance of tied ninth in the 2010 BMW International Open.
• Playing in his first European Tour event of 2013.
• Becomes the seventh first-time winner of the 2013 season. They are: Scott Jamieson (Nelson Mandela Championship presented ISPS Handa), Chris Wood (Commercial Bank Qatar Masters), Matt Kuchar (World Golf Championships – Accenture Match Play Championship), Dawie Van Der Walt (Tshwane Open), Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Maybank Malaysian Open), Peter Uihlein (Madeira Islands Open – Portugal – BPI) and Simon Thornton (Najeti Hotels et Golfs Open presented by Neuflize OBC).
• Becomes the first Challenge Tour Member to win on The European Tour since Martin Wiegele at this event in 2010.
• Becomes the tenth player since the event became part of The European Tour in 2003 to win his first European Tour event at Saint Omer.
• Victory comes in his fourth appearance in the Najeti Hotels et Golfs Open presented by Neuflize OBC.
• This victory beats his previous best finish in this event of tied 11th in 2012.
• Becomes the first Irishman to win the Najeti Hotels et Golfs Open presented by Neuflize OBC.
OTHER FACTS
• Becomes the first player from the Republic of Ireland to win on The European Tour this season.
• Becomes the first player from the Republic of Ireland to win on The European Tour since Shane Lowry at the 2012 Portugal Masters.
• The 48th Republic of Ireland win on The European Tour.
• The 15th different player from the Republic of Ireland to win on The European Tour.
• Fourth win as a professional.
• Gains an exemption until the end of the 2014 season.
• Gains his largest European Tour prize of €83,330.
• Gains a place in the 2014 Volvo Golf Champions.
• Becomes the 11th European Tour victory by former Challenge Tour players on the 2013 European Tour. They are: Scott Jamieson (Nelson Mandela Championship presented by ISPS Handa), Louis Oosthuizen (Volvo Golf Champions), Jamie Donaldson (Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship), Stephen Gallacher (Omega Dubai Desert Classic), Richard Sterne (Joburg Open), Marcel Siem (Trophée Hassan II), Raphaël Jacquelin (Open de España), Brett Rumford (Ballantine’s Championship and Volvo China Open), Joost Luiten (Lyoness Open powered by Greenfinity) and Simon Thornton (Najeti Hotels et Golfs Open presented by Neuflize OBC).
• The 318th European Tour victory by a former Challenge Tour player.
• The 129th former Challenge Tour player to win on The European Tour.
