Southport-based professional golfer Matthew Baldwin fired a closing round 69 at the Irish Open to secure joint 3rd place, and in turn a start in the Open Championship at Hoylake next month. Matthew, a student of putting coach Phil Kenyon, finished the week at -11 only two shots behind the winner Mikko Illonen.

This seasons third major Championship will also be Baldwin's third major appearance of his career, following excellent performances at the 2012 Open Championship and 2012 US Open in which he made he cut in both. On a local Hoylake golf course he will know well, don't be surprised to see his name lighting up the famous yellow Open Championship leaderboard!

Other notable finishes at the Irish Open, held at the Fota Island Resort in County Cork, were Chris Wood (tied 8th), Matthew Nixon (tied 14th), Marcel Siem (tied 14th) and a solid professional debut for young Matthew Fitzpatrick, with a tied 29th place finish.