Thornton pipped at the post

Golf:Simon Thornton saw his dream of glory come up short when he missed out on the the Allianz Golf Open Grand Toulouse on the European Challenge Tour by one shot to England's Sam Little.

Little showed credentials with a stunning win in the Russian Challenge Cup in Moscow last weekend and he was on the title trail once again at Golf de Toulouse-Seilh, a closing 68 giving him a 16 under par total of 268 and a one shot victory over Thornton who carded a 69 for 269.

Having been 43rd in the rankings two weeks ago and well outside the top 20 who automatically win a card for the 2012 European Tour, the back-to-back triumphs have propelled Little to second place, now only a mere 12,732 behind leader, fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood.

While a handful of players were in contention at the start of the final round, it quickly became a two horse race between Little and Thornton, the 34 year old Irishman looking for his first Challenge Tour triumph.

Into the back nine, it looked like that eventuality might be about to become true until the 13th hole turned the contest on its head. One shot clear, Thornton found the greenside bunker from where he could do no better than bogey five at the same time as Little found the centre of the green with a six iron and drained the resulting 20 footer for a birdie three.

From one behind to one in front, Little seized the advantage and when he holed from 12 feet at the 15th for a birdie two, he was two clear with three to play. He allowed Thornton a chink of light with a bogey six at the 17th, but a par three at the last was good enough for victory.

For Thornton, who like Little will take next week’s tournament in the Canary Islands off, the consolation was the 17,600 he picked up for second place moved him from 25th place to 12th on the rankings and in with an excellent chance of now finishing in the top 20 at the end of the season.

“It would have been nice to go one better and get the win today but it just wasn’t to be but I’m pleased with the move I’ve made in the rankings,” said the Irishman. “I played okay today and I thought I might have a chance but I just didn’t putt as well as I had done earlier in the week.”