Scot Ewen Ferguson now has his golf game pointed where he wants, securing a best finish in six months and in the toughest week of the year at SDC Championship at Eastern Cape in South Africa.
Ferguson, 27, posted back-to-back closing two rounds of 68 for a 10-under tally, grabbing a five-way share of third place at the close of the inaugural co-sanctioned event at St. Francis Links.
Scot Ewen Ferguson shares third place at the inaugual co-sanctioned SDC Championship
Southport’s Matthew Baldwin celebrated his 200th Tour event storming his way to maiden Tour success by seven shots thanks to a closing 68 for an 18-under tally.
Baldwin, 37, had turned pro in 2008 and while winning three years later on the secondary Challenge Tour, his only other pro victory was four years ago on the MENA Tour.
His SDC success now sees him exempt to the end of 2025 on both the DP World and Sunshine Tours.
An incredible sand save when it matters most.@mattbaldwin26 👏#SDCChampionship pic.twitter.com/3G958HKBfA
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) March 19, 2023
Ferguson’s effort is his best this year after a T28th in last month’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic, and the Scot’s first top-three since last September when he was runner-up in the Made In Himmerland, and a month after his second Tour win in Northern Ireland.
And the Bearsden golfer has done so in a week where strong winds tested the patience of all.
Ferguson said: “I’m really pleased as it has been one of the most difficult weeks of the year, so it was nice to finish with a share of third.
“I played really nicely considering I was plus three after 15 holes on Thursday, and then managed to birdie the last three to shoot level, so that confirmed my game wasn’t all that bad.
“I also managed to tame the winds a bit”.
Though if there was anything that was helpful during the delays, it was staying on site with good friend and constant travelling companion Connor Syme, along with their two caddies in renting one of St. Francis Links lodges.
Ferguson said: “Staying on site helped so much. It’s a beautiful place to be and renting a house with Connor and our caddies was a great laugh.
“It helped so much during the delays in play, as we could go back to the house and chill-out or have chipping competitions in the living room (smiling).
“Looking forward now to heading up to Joburg and continuing this form”.
Syme also grabbed his best new season finish in seven events, posting a closing 69 to share 14th at seven-under.
The Fifer will join Ferguson along with Callum Hill and David Law, who each missed the SDC cut, in travelling north to Joburg for Thursday’s starting Jonsson Workwear Open at Stern City to the north of the South African capital.
