Raphael Jacquelin wins Sicilian Open

France’s Raphael Jacquelin held off the challenge of Englishman Anthony Wall to win the inaugural Sicilian Open at Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa by a single shot.

Raphael Jacquelin
Fergus Bisset
By
published

France's Raphael Jacquelin held off the challenge of Englishman Anthony Wall to win the inaugural Sicilian Open at Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa by a single shot.

The leading players had to return to the course early on Monday morning to complete their final rounds after dangerous weather conditions had prompted a two and a half hour delay on Sunday.

Jacquelin had six holes left to play and he carried a one shot advantage over Wall. The Englishman struck with two early birdies but he slumped to a double bogey at the 17th and, even though he responded with another birdie at the closing hole, Jacquelin was able to hold on by the narrowest of margins.

"It was not easy - Anthony made a couple of birdies and put the pressure on me right from the start, he said. "I actually felt a little bit tired this morning and my ball-striking wasn't as good as it has been but I suppose with a 5am wake-up call I was expecting that."

Spain's Jose Manuel Lara finished in a tie for third with Joel Sjoholm of Sweden. Lara, who opened the week with a 65 was left to rue a costly second round of 75.

Eight players, including Scott Jamieson and Peter Whiteford of Scotland, and Simon Dyson and Jamie Elson of England, were tied for fifth.

Sicilian Open Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa, Sicily Mar 17-20, purse €1,000,000 par 71

1   Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 66   69   69   68   272   €166,660 2   Anthony Wall (Eng)   66   67   72   68   273   €111,110 T3   Joel Sjoholm (Swe)   70   68   70   69   277   €56,300 T3   Jose Manuel Lara (Esp)   65   75   68   69   277   €56,300 T5   Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel)   71   71   69   68   279   €26,300 T5   Lorenzo Gagli (Ita)   72   69   69   69   279   €26,300    T5   Carlos Del Moral (Esp)   68   70   71   70   279   €26,300 T5   Scott Jamieson (Sco)   71   70   68   70   279   €26,300 T5   Oscar Floren (Swe)   69   68   71   71   279   €26,300 T5   Simon Dyson (Eng)   71   70   67   71   279   €26,300 T5   Peter Whiteford (Sco)   74   68   66   71   279   €26,300 T5   Jamie Elson (Eng)   69   69   69   72   279   €26,300

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage only

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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