French longshot Quesne wins Open de Andalucia

Julien Quesne earned his first European Tour victory in style, ripping a 4-iron to 6 feet on the final hole and holing the birdie putt for a two-shot win at the Open de Andalucia in Spain. Quesne became the 400^th different winner on the tour since its inception in 1972.

Quesne, from France, matched the course record at Aloha GC with a closing 64 for a -17 total. Italy’s Matteo Manassero, who set the mark in round one, finished second on -15. In fact, Manassero began the week as the betting favorite on 22/1, same as Robert Rock. Quesne, a relative unknown at age 31, was well down the list at 150/1.

In the celebratory aftermath, Quesne called his approach to 18 “the best shot I’ve ever hit.” No doubt he was right. The green is narrow and flanked by bunkers, demanding a precise shot from long distance. Quesne delivered, then capped his triumph by sinking the putt for his eighth birdie of the day and fourth in his last five holes.

Tour stalwart Miguel Angel Jimenez, the event’s organizer, tied seventh, but didn’t come away empty-handed. Quesne, who called the Spaniard his favorite player, vowed to send Jimenez a case of wine from his home region of Bordeaux.

The European Tour crosses the Mediterranean for this week’s Trophee Hassan II in Morocco, where Manassero, Rock and Francesco Molinari headline the field.