A member of the European Challenge Tour’s Class of 2022 celebrated a milestone appearance on the DP World Tour in style by clinching a maiden title in emphatic fashion. Here is everything you need to know from the SDC Championship.
Baldwin lands ‘unbelievable’ breakthrough
The 2023 DP World Tour campaign provided us with yet another brilliant storyline on Sunday as Matthew Baldwin claimed his breakthrough title on Tour in his 200th start at the age of 37. A closing four-under-par 68 saw the Englishman close the tournament on 18 under par, seven shots clear of his nearest challenger at St Francis Links. High winds earlier in the week meant several players came into the final day on the Eastern Cape still not having finished their third round. Baldwin was among those, birdieing three of his final four holes on Sunday morning to take a four-stroke advantage into the final round. Three birdies in his opening eight holes of the fourth round extended his lead to six shots and he coupled two further birdies with a lone bogey at the 11th to cruise to a comfortable success. The win caps a brilliant comeback for Baldwin, who lost his Tour card in 2016 after suffering from injuries and graduated from the Challenge Tour by finishing 19th on the Road to Mallorca Rankings. On the back of his DP World Tour breakthrough, Baldwin jumps 103 spots to 26th on the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex. “It’s my 200th start so I’ve had plenty of opportunities,” he said of his victory in an event co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour. “It’s just an unbelievable feeling right now. It proves a lot to me. It proves that I’m good enough to be out here. I’ve had plenty of doubt and this proves everything to me.”
Strong winds test the field at St Francis Links
The DP World Tour was making its first visit to St Francis Links, a Jack Nicklaus Signature course, with much of the pre-event discussion surrounding forecasts of strong winds of up to 65km/h in the first round. While the gusts didn’t materialise quite as forecasted on day one, the high winds returned on Friday afternoon to force a suspension of play that affected the afternoon wave of starters, resulting in catch-up over the weekend. Having grown up playing on links courses in Southport on the north west coast of England, Baldwin took to St Francis Links quickly and enjoyed the challenge posed by the elements. After clinching victory on Sunday, he said: “It’s been windy all week, it’s that sort of golf course. Fortunately for me I’ve grown up playing in Southport at Hesketh and Royal Birkdale, so I’m pretty good in the wind and it’s worked out a treat for me.”
Amazing aces
Last week’s first leg of a South African double-header brought about two holes in one, both of which materialised on the par-three 17th during the resumption of the second round on Saturday morning. Englishman Dan Bradbury - who made an ace on the 17th in the final round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship earlier in the year - got the first, holing from 187 yards using a nine iron. Shortly afterwards, South African Wynand Dingle made a hole-in-one using the same club. There have now been an impressive 13 holes-in-one in the opening 14 events of the 2023 season on Tour.
Albatross helps Luiten continue fine form
While holes-in-one have been somewhat of a regular occurrence so far this season, albatrosses are rather more infrequent. But Joost Luiten made a mockery of the 533-yard par-five 13th on day one, holing with a pitching wedge for his second shot after a huge drive downwind. It is the Dutchman’s third career albatross on Tour, having previously achieved the feat at the 2014 Volvo Golf Champions in Durban and 2017's Andalucia Valderrama Masters. Reflecting on his moment of brilliance, the six-time DP World Tour winner compared the feeling of making an albatross to a hole-in-one. “For some reason, an albatross is even more special than a hole-in-one,” he added. The 37-year-old finished the week in a share of ninth place to make it three top tens in his last three starts.
Inspiring future stars
Following on from several similar initiatives earlier this season, local children from the South African Golf Development Board took part in a golf clinic ahead of the tournament in St Francis Bay. Several professionals from both the DP World Tour and Sunshine Tour were involved along with the expertise of dedicated coaches. Challenge Tour Graduate Tom McKibbin was among the players on hand to offer their support along with Sunshine Tour member Kyle Barker, with both delighted to be helping highlight the good effect the game can have. “Golf is an awesome game for them to learn,” Barker said. “It teaches the children a lot and it is nice to spend time with them.”
