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?
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