Callum Shinkwin Cruises To Cazoo Open Title
As those around him faltered, the 29-year-old kept his cool as he sailed to a four shot victory in Wales
Beginning the final day of the Cazoo Open, it was setup for a tense 18 holes, with Callum Shinkwin holding a one shot lead over Frenchman, Julien Guerrier, who was still looking for a first DP World Tour title.
What transpired was a tight opening few holes, with Shinkwin's lead evaporating over the first two. However, just three holes later, the Englishman remarkably found himself five shots clear as back-to-birdies from Shinkwin were maximised by Guerrier making a trio of bogeys!
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Despite bogeys at the seventh and eighth, Shinkwin made his fourth birdie of the day at the ninth, as his one-under-par front nine gave him a five shot lead with just nine to play.
Shinkwin was cruising to the title, especially when a birdie at the 11th extended that advantage to six shots. Nobody was getting close to him and, after bogeying the 13th, he very nearly eagled the 15th as he held a six shot lead with three to go.
A two shot swing did occur on the 16th though, as nearest rival, Connor Syme, birdied the treacherous par 4 whilst Shinkwin bogeyed. There was also another possibility of a two shot swing at the next, as Shinkwin's second shot from a bunker finished 12-foot from the flag.
Thankfully, for the Englishman, he managed to hole the par putt, especially as Syme ended up holing his birdie putt to cut the deficit to three heading down the last. After finding the green in three, and with Syme making bogey, Shinkwin safely two-putted for par and a four shot win.
Speaking after his round, an emotional Shinkwin revealed that his grandmother had passed away just three weeks prior to today's victory. "I played well today and this golf course is a heavy strokeplay golf course and, as long as I did what I had to do, unless someone came through the pack, which I knew wasn't going to happen because the course was playing too tough, then it would work out.
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"Connor came out of nowhere today. He was six or seven back and then made a couple of birdies. He put it close on 17 and I haven't played it well all week. So, to hole that putt and guarantee a three shot lead down the last was huge."
Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.
Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.
Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?
Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°
Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°
Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°
Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°
Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
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