DP World Tour: Matthew Baldwin Wins First DP World Tour Title at SDC Championship
England’s Matthew Baldwin started tied for the lead on Sunday but scored three birdies on the final four holes of an interrupted third round to give him a four-shot advantage going into the final round. He then carded his 68 to close out the tournament at 18-under, with him seven clear of second-placed Spanish Adli his Arnaus.
Last updated: 19/03/23 16:22
British Matthew Baldwin celebrates his first DP World Tour title after winning the SDC Championship.
England’s Matthew Baldwin celebrated his 200th DP World Tour event with a seven-shot win at the SDC Championships in South Africa to claim his maiden title.
The 37-year-old started the day tied for top of the leaderboard, but took three birdies on the last four holes of the third round, which was interrupted early Sunday morning, to give him a four-shot advantage over the final 18 holes. won.
And he kept his momentum going in the fourth round, extending his lead to six on the turn thanks to three front-nine birdies before recovering from his first bogey of the day on the 11th and gaining gains to 13 and 14. raised. Ending the week at 18 under par.
Spain’s Adri Arnaus finished second at 11-under with seven birdies and two bogeys in 67 at-bats. Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson, meanwhile, tied for fifth at 10-under for third.
Baldwin, who graduated from the Challenge Tour in 2011, has had many ups and downs on his way into the winner’s circle. He spent his first three seasons impressively on his tour with DP World before being forced to cancel his 2015 campaign with illness in May. And that summer he underwent two surgeries.
He lost his card in 2016 but returned through qualifying school for the 2018 season and was due to return in 2021 through the Challenge Tour, but after the category was frozen due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Missed out.
After finishing 19th on the Road to Mallorca last season, he can finally call himself a champion in his seventh full season on the DP World Tour.
Reflecting on his journey to this moment at the trophy presentation, Baldwin said:
“I can’t handle it right now, but it means the world to me.
“It was very windy all week. Golf courses are like that. Luckily I grew up playing Hesketh and Royal Birkdale in Southport so I have been pretty lucky with the wind and it works really well. went.”
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