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Jordan Gumberg claims SDC Championship crown with play-off victory
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Jordan Gumberg claims SDC Championship crown with play-off victory

American Jordan Gumberg secured his maiden DP World Tour title after beating home favourite Robin Williams in a play-off to win the 2024 SDC Championship.

The 28-year-old started the day three shots off the lead but fired a flawless 68 on Sunday before holing his birdie putt from around 15 feet at the second extra hole to enter the winner's circle.

Williams had led for much of the day after carding four early birdies but he surrendered a double bogey at the 17th to finish alongside Gumberg on 12 under par after 72 holes.

And after both men safely parred the first play-off hole, Gumberg rolled in his putt to seal the win.

Frenchman David Ravetto finished alone in third place on ten under after signing for a closing 70.

After play had been delayed by two hours due to thunder and lightning in the morning, Gumberg reached the turn in 33 blows after carding birdies at the second, fourth and ninth before picking up another shot on the long 13th to get within one shot of Williams' lead.

But Williams soon restored his two-shot advantage with a birdie of his own on 13 to keep Gumberg at arm's length.

Gumberg continued to give himself chances to close the gap on the closing stretch, but with his putts narrowly evading the hole, he looked like having to settle for second place until Williams' round began to unravel at the 16th.

Having opted to lay up, Williams sent his third shot into the thick rough over the back of the 16th green but somehow managed to escape with a par after holing from around ten feet to take a two-shot lead into the final two holes.

But he saw that advantage disappear altogether after failing to get up and down from a bunker at the short 17th and making a double bogey.

Things looked like going from bad to worse for Williams, as Gumberg had a birdie putt at the 18th and an opportunity to take the outright lead.

But with Gumberg sliding his putt by to set the target at 12 under, Williams recovered from missing the 18th green to safely par the last and force a play-off.

And although Williams did not put a foot wrong in the play-off, Gumberg was closer with his approach shots and managed to take advantage at the second extra hole.

An emotional Gumberg said at the trophy presentation: "I'm so thankful to be standing here.

"It means everything. I never really got this far in my dreams. So I'm kind of at a loss for words but it means everything.

"It's what we fight for every day, it's what we practise for, it's the early hours, the late hours, everything. This is incredible.

"I want to thank my fiancée, first and foremost, she's amazing. I wouldn't be here without her. And my family back home. My dad has put so much into my golf game and just to be standing here for him and my mum and everybody just means the world."

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