Matthew Baldwin has been there before. In 2011 he won the Challenge Tour de España in the Canary Islands, and in subsequent seasons competed regularly on the European Tour.
On this occasion the 31-year-old Englishman was competing in the final event of the 2016-17 Gecko Tour, using Europe’s premier winter circuit to prepare for the first tournament of this year’s European Challenge Tour, in Kenya later this month.
In the end, after a tough duel against compatriot Sam Connor, Baldwin’s experience prevailed and he totalled 136 at Finca Cortesín to win by one shot, with Andreas Andersson and James Robinson another four strokes back joint third.
Victory by Connor would have also given him the order of merit title but in the end that honour was secured by Andersson, as well as a card for the Alps Tour.
