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
