Raphael Jacquelin wins Open de Espana

Raphael Jacquelin claimed his fourth European Tour title at the Open de Espana after coming through a record-equalling play-off with Felipe Aguilar and Maximilian Kieffer at Parador de El Saler in Valencia

Raphael Jacquelin

Raphael Jacquelin claimed his fourth European Tour title at the Open de Espana after coming through a record-equalling play-off with Felipe Aguilar and Maximilian Kieffer at Parador de El Saler in Valencia.

The trio finished 72 holes on five-under-par after a day of tough scoring in south-west Spain.

Marc Warren, who held the 54-hole lead on eight-under-par, three putted the 17th and 18th to miss out on the play-off by one shot.

As such, Aguilar, Jacquelin and Kieffer - who shot 70, 71 and 71 respectively - headed back down the 18th.

They all made pars twice before Kieffer holed a 30-footer at the third time of asking to extend the play-off after Jacquelin tapped in for an easy birdie.

The Frenchman and the German exchanged a further five pars before heading back to the 18th tee for the 10th time of the day.

Seizing the tournament by the scruff of the neck, Jacquelin knocked a wedge to five feet and holed the putt to claim his first European Tour title since the 2011 Sicilian Open.

"That was very tiring but I am really, really happy," he said.

"I could not make any putts in the play-off but the last one dropped, which meant a lot for me and my family.

"There's another baby coming at the end of November. Every time I get a baby, there's a win. I'll have a football team after a few years!"

Open de Espana Parador de El Saler, Valencia April 18-21, purse €2,500,000, par 72

1) Raphael Jacquelin (FRA) 73 66 73 71 = 283 €250,000 T2) Felipe Aguilar (CHI) 68 71 74 70 = 283 €130,280 T2) Maximilian Kieffer (GER) 75 68 69 71 = 283 €130,280 T4) Magnus A Carlsson (SWE) 70 75 68 71 = 284 €59,025 T4) David Horsey (ENG) 71 74 66 73 = 284 €59,025 T4) Paul Waring (ENG) 71 71 69 71 = 284 €59,025 T4) Marc Warren (SCO) 70 70 68 76 = 284 €59,025 T8) Mateo Delpodido (ITA) 73 69 73 70 = 285 €32,175 T8) Espen Kofstad (NOR) 71 72 70 72 = 285 €32,175 T8) Eddie Pepperell (ENG) 70 70 73 72 = 285 €32,175 T8) Peter Uihlein (USA) 70 68 74 73 = 285 €32,175

Bold signifies Titleist golf ball usage

Nick Bonfield
Content Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, commissioning and feature writing. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x