Jacquelin wins Sicilian Open

Ragusa - Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin won the weather-delayed Siclian Open on Monday clinching a one-stroke victory over Anthony Wall of England thanks to a closing round of 68.

It was the 36-year-old's third EPGA title and it came four years after his last victory.

Jacquelin and Wall, whose last title win came in 2000, resumed with six holes to play after thunderstorms had brought an abrupt end to play on Sunday evening.

The Englishman, who trailed by one shot overnight, twice drew level, but a double-bogey six at the 421-yard 17th proved to be fatal to his title chances.

Wall came back with a closing birdie at the last, but Jacquelin's par made him the champion with a three-under-par 68 and a 12-under aggregate of 272.

Spaniard Jose Manuel Lara finished in a tie for third place with Swede Joel Sjoholm after a double bogey at the last, but they were five shots off the pace.

"It was a good fight, but there's only one winner and I am happy it's me," said Jacquelin.

"I've played pretty well since 2007 and I feel I am still improving, even at 36, so maybe it's time to win a bigger one.

"I was feeling a bit tired and Anthony put the pressure on me, but I made a good four on the last."

Wall was left bemoaning his luck at the 17th where his approach came up just short and rolled away round the edge of a bunker into water.

"It's a real shame for me," he said. "But for one bad swing that was only half a bad swing I may have been the winner, but we pushed each other all the way and I'm pleased with my game."

Jacquelin's win moves from 116th to 84th in the world rankings.

Final round scores in the EPGA's Sicilian Open which finished here on Monday after thunderstorms had halted play on Sunday:-

(Par 71):

272 - Raphael Jacquelin (FRA) 66-69-69-68

273 - Anthony Wall (ENG) 66-67-72-68

277 - Joel Sjoholm (SWE) 70-68-70-69, Jose Manuel Lara (ESP) 65-75-68-69

279 - Carlos Del Moral (ESP) 68-70-71-70, Peter Whiteford (ENG) 74-68-66-71, Nicolas Colsaerts (BEL) 71-71-69-68, Simon Dyson (ENG) 71-70-67-71, Oscar Floren (SWE) 69-68-71-71, Scott Jamieson (SCO) 71-70-68-70, Jamie Elson 69-69-69-72 (ENG), Lorenzo Gagli (ITA) 72-69-69-69

280 - Marco Crespi (ITA) 69-68-72-71, Lee Slattery (ENG) 72-72-67-69, Jamie Donaldson (WAL) 73-67-70-70, Ignacio Garrido (ESP) 69-71-73-67, Bernd Wiesberger (AUT) 69-71-70-70, George Coetzee (RSA) 70-72-72-66, Graeme Storm (ENG) 69-75-67-69

281 - Stephen Dodd (WAL) 65-72-72-72, Soren Hansen (DEN) 69-70-69-73, Oskar Henningsson (SWE) 71-67-72-71, Gregory Bourdy (FRA) 73-71-67-70, Victor Dubuisson (FRA) 70-71-68-72, Simon Khan (ENG) 70-73-69-69