Julien Quesne wins Italian Open by one shot after big final-round rally

TURIN, Italy – Julien Quesne made five birdies on the back nine to win the Lindt Italian Open by one stroke Sunday for the second European Tour victory of his career. 

The 33-year-old Frenchman began the day four shots off the lead and looked out of contention when he double-bogeyed the second hole, but he got one shot back on the fourth, another at the sixth and then stormed home in 31 for a 5-under 67 at the Circolo Golf Torino. 

Quesne, who is 81st in the season standings, finished the tournament at 12-under 276, one stroke ahead of David Higgins of Ireland and Steve Webster of England. 

His only other win came at the 2012 Open de Andalucia Costa del Sol, although this was his seventh top-10 finish of the season, having placed seventh at last week's KLM Open. 

Higgins had managed just one previous top-three finish in more than 200 European Tour events spanning 20 years. He birdied the 18th to match playing partner Webster's closing 68, the 2005 champion having threatened to claim the title again when he holed from 60 feet across the 17th green. 

Big-hitting Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium was among four players who tied for fourth at 10-under, while Ryder Cup teammate and local favorite Francesco Molinari finished five strokes behind Quesne on his home course.