Monday, March 21, 2011

Jacquelin finishes Sicilian Job


Raphaël Jacquelin held off a spirited challenge from Anthony Wall to win his third European Tour title at the Sicilian Open.

A two-and-a-half hour delay for dangerous weather conditions on Sunday forced a Monday finish at Donnafugata Golf Resort & SPA, with the leading pair resuming with just one shot separating them and six holes to play.

Wall twice wiped out the deficit, only to double bogey the penultimate hole as 36 year old Jacquelin walked away with the €166,660 first prize.

Jacquelin closed with a three under par round of 68 for a 12 under par total, finishing one shot clear of Wall after his playing partner birdied the last.

Teeing off at 7am, Wall was immediately level when he birdied the par three 13th.

But - as he had when Wall birdied the first hole of the final round to draw level - Jacquelin responded with a gain of his own at the very next hole.

Wall - whose only previous European Tour title was 11 years ago - looked to have forced a play-off when he picked up another shot at the par five 16th.

But he failed to capitalise on his momentum, and his six at the 421 yard 17th proved costly, his gain at the last only enough to reduce the arrears.

Spaniard José Manuel Lara - who was only two behind Jacquelin with three to play overnight - also had a double bogey, his at the last, as he tied with Swede Joel Sjöholm for third on seven under.