Julien Quesne wins Open de Andalucia

Julien Quesne of France completed a superb final round of 64 to win the Open de Andalucia Costa del Sol at Aloha Golf Club by a single shot from Italy’s Matteo Manassero.

Julien Quesne wins Andalucia Open (Getty Images)
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Julien Quesne of France completed a superb final round of 64 to win the Open de Andalucia Costa del Sol at Aloha Golf Club by a single shot from Italy's Matteo Manassero.

Quesne, a graduate from last year's Challenge Tour, began the final round three shots behind the leaders. But four birdies on the front nine saw him threatening at the top of the board.

The 31-year-old started back with four straight pars but then made a late surge with birdies at the 14th, 15th, 16th and testing 18th. His birdie at the home hole, the only one recorded there all day, saw him post a clubhouse total of 17-under-par.

At that stage both Manassero and Eduardo De La Riva had chances to match the Frenchman, but when neither could find the necessary birdies over the closing holes the title went to Quesne. It was his first European Tour victory. His best previous finish on the circuit had been a tie for 17th at last month's Avantha Masters.

"It's the best day of my life," he said. "I'm very happy. It's very quick for me to win this year."

In the end, Manassero finished alone in second with De La Riva in third. England's David Lynn carded a closing 69 to finish the week alone in fourth.

For a time it looked as though another Frenchman, Raphael Jacquelin could emerge victorious - four birdies on the front nine put him into the lead. But his challenge faded on the back nine as he made bogeys at the 12th and 13th. He eventually finished tied for fifth with Hennie Otto.

Open de Andalucia Costa del Sol Aloha Golf Club, Andalucia, Spain Mar 15-18, purse €1,000,000 par 72

1   Julien Quesne (Fra)   68   72   67   64   271   €166,660 2   Matteo Manassero (Ita)   64   73   68   68   273   €111,110 3   Eduardo De La Riva (Esp) 67   69   68   70   274   €62,600 4   David Lynn (Eng)      70   68   68   69   275   €50,000 T5   Raphael Jacquelin (Fra)   70   68   69   69   276   €38,700 T5   Hennie Otto (RSA)   67   71   68   70   276   €38,700 T7   Mark Foster (Eng)   69   70   69   69   277   €24,350 T7   Miguel Angel Jimenez (Esp) 69 68   69   70   277   €24,350 T7   Shane Lowry (Ire)   71   72   67   67   277   €24,350 T7   Jaco Van Zyl (RSA)   69   71   71   66   277   €24,350

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage

Where next? PGA Tour - Luke Donald wins Transitions Championship, returns to World Number 1

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?