DP World Tour: Matthew Baldwin wins his first DP World Championship at the SDC Championship
England’s Matthew Baldwin started Sunday tied for the lead, but three birdies in the last four holes of his hanging third round earned him a four-shooter into the final round. Then he got 68 cards to close the tournament under 18-zero, seven ahead of Spain’s Adri Arnos in second place.
Last update: 03/23/19 04:22 PM
England’s 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 maiden title win with a seven-shot victory at the SDC Championships in South Africa.
The 37-year-old started the day tied for the top of the leaderboard, but made three birdies on the final four holes of his pending third round early Sunday morning to capitalize on a four-putt putt on the last 18 holes.
He kept his foot on the gas in the fourth, extending his lead to six strokes on the inning courtesy of three birdies in front of nine, before recovering his first bogey in the 11th with gains in the 13th and 14th to finish week 18 under par.
Spaniard Adri Arnos finished alone in second place with 11-under after scoring seven birdies and two bogeys in his 67-under close, while Scotsman Ewen Ferguson was in a five-under tie to finish third at 10-under.
After graduating from the Challenge Tour in 2011, Baldwin has seen a series of ups and downs on his journey to the winner’s circle. He enjoyed an impressive first three seasons on the DP World Tour before illness forced him to stop his 2015 campaign in May – and he had two operations over that summer.
He lost his card in 2016 but returned for the 2018 season after coming through qualifying school and was to return in 2021 via the Challenge Tour but missed out after classes were frozen due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Finished 19th on the road to Mallorca last season, he is now in his seventh full season on the DP World Tour and can finally call himself the champion.
Reflecting on his journey up to this point in the trophy presentation, Baldwin said: “I’m not 100% sure what just happened. It’s been a tough few years so obviously getting a win means absolutely everything.
“I can’t handle it now but it means the world to me.
“It’s been windy all week, it’s that kind of golf course. Luckily for me I grew up playing Southport at Hesketh and Royal Birkdale so I’m very good in the wind and I made it.”
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