Jaco Ahlers was the best of the South African players on Sunday as he finished in a share of third in the Sunshine Tour’s and DP World Tour’s SDC Championship at St Francis Links.

Ahlers chased hard, and three bogeys in his final five holes meant he wasn’t able to finish closer to champion Matthew Baldwin of England. He had picked up six birdies without dropping a shot up to the 14^th hole, but he bogeyed that, the 15^th and the 17^th on his way home. A birdie on the 16^th meant he finished the tournament on 10-under, eight-behind the runaway winner Baldwin.

Baldwin claimed his first victory in his 200^th start on the DP World Tour as he closed with a 68 to win on 18 under par and dedicated his victory to his late stepfather. “It’s been a tough 12 months. My stepdad died last May, and this is for him,” he said.

Spain’s Adri Arnaus took second place on 11-under-par with a final round of 67, while Ahlers shared third on 10-under with Ewen Ferguson of Scotland, Antoine Rozner of France, Denmark’s Kristian Krogh Johannessen and Jens Dantorp of Sweden.

“It’s unbelievable,” a relieved Baldwin said of his win. “It’s my 200^th start so I’ve had plenty of opportunities. It’s just an unbelievable feeling right now.”

It was a long weekend of golf for the field, and which Baldwin managed superbly. The wind that forced the suspension of the earlier rounds meant the third round had to be carried over into Sunday morning, with Baldwin finishing this with a solid 65 which lifted him to 14 under par overall. The Englishman had a four-stroke lead over Johannessen going into the final round and was never challenged.

“I played well all week. I was so steady out there and I think that maybe put the pressure on those around me to try and play more attacking golf, and I was fortunate to come out on the right side of it.”

It also comes at a good time for him both professionally and personally.

“It certainly makes the rest of the year more relaxing. I can plan a schedule. I’m also due to get married this year or the next, so I’ll be able to have a couple of weeks off to help plan that which is exciting.”

But the ultimate reward is the confidence this win has brought him.

“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.”