Marco Penge secured his maiden DP World Tour title with a brilliant final-round 67 to win the 2025 Hainan Classic by three shots.
Starting the day tied for the lead with home favourite Bowen Xiao, the Englishman briefly trailed a surging Sean Crocker at the turn.
However, a sensational run of three consecutive birdies at the 12th, 13th, and 14th holes saw Penge pull clear of the field and wrap up an emotional victory at Mission Hills Resort Haikou.
The 2023 HotelPlanner Tour Number One finished the tournament at 17 under par, carding seven birdies and two bogeys on Sunday.
Crocker and Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan shared second place at 14 under, while Denmark’s Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen finished another shot back.
Penge, who secured his full DP World Tour playing rights with a clutch performance at the Genesis Championship last October, was overcome with emotion after his breakthrough win.
THANKING NETWORK
“This obviously means the world to me,” he said. “It’s something I’ve always dreamt of — winning on the biggest stage. After my time off over the winter, it was the thing I wanted to prove to myself and to everyone, to show what a player I am.”
He was quick to pay tribute to his support network, adding: “My caddie has been my rock through it all, and I wouldn’t be where I am without my wife and my whole team. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
Reflecting on the personal side of his journey, Penge shared: “We spend so much time away from home. All of us lads are doing this for our wives, our families, our kids.
To be able to say I’ve won on the DP World Tour when my son is older and can see that – to be a hero to him – that’s everything.
Before I teed off, I watched some videos of him laughing and smiling, and it gave me that inner strength I needed today.”
The victory capped off an incredible stretch for Penge, who also booked his place in next month’s US PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club by finishing third in the Asian Swing standings.
Japan’s Keita Nakajima topped the rankings, with Eugenio Chacarra second and Penge third — all three securing their spots in the second major of the year.