MADRID, 17 October 2005 — France’s Raphael Jacquelin won the Madrid Open by three strokes yesterday despite a spirited challenge by former British Open champion Paul Lawrie.
Jacquelin’s first European Tour title at his 238th event came with a closing two-under-par 69 for a 23-under-par 261 four-round total and a 166,660 euros ($200,000) first prize.
Scotland’s Lawrie, who began the day eight strokes behind the Frenchman, shot a 64 to finish three adrift.
After ending a run of four second places, the last at this year’s Indonesian Open, Jacquelin was given warm welcome by his compatriot players, having never allowed Lawrie to get closer than three strokes.
When the 1999 British Open winner chipped in for one of his seven birdies, Jacquelin admitted feeling the pressure but he held off the Scot with two birdies in a composed back nine.
Jacquelin’s first success came the week after Britain’s John Bickerton finally won at his 287th attempt when he took the Canaries Open title.
It was a timely win for Jacquelin. “My wife Fanny and I are expecting our second baby very soon, so this is a good present,” he said.
The 42-year-old Scot was determined to earn as much prize money as he could to extend his lead on top of the money-list over New Zealand’s Michael Campbell.
However, Montgomerie suffered a disappointing finale, missing three short putts in his round of 66 that left him eight strokes behind Jacquelin.
Sorenstam Surges to Lead,
Wie Five Back
In Palm Desert, California, Annika Sorenstam, her sights set on a fifth Samsung World Championship crown, surged to a four-stroke lead Saturday.
Sorenstam fired a third-round 66 on the Canyons course at Bighorn Golf Club for 201 and a four-stroke lead over South Korea’s Gloria Park, whose bogey-free 68 put her at 11-under 205.
Michelle Wie, the 16-year-old schoolgirl sensation who is playing her first tournament as a professional, carded a 71 for 206 and sole possession of third place in the 20-woman field.
Wie had fired a 65 on Friday to earn a place in Saturday’s final pairing with overnight leader Grace Park of South Korea, who ballooned to a 76 for 209.
Sorenstam nabbed three straight birdies from the second and picked up another at the seventh.
She gave shots back at the ninth and 11th, but birdied four of her final five holes to take control of the tournament.
