GOLF:Raphael Jacquelin credited good old-fashioned hard work for the hot April streak which culminated in his second European Tour title at the Asian Open yesterday.

He survived a late wobble as the weather made conditions treacherous to post a final round one-over-par 73 and finish on 278, 10 under par.

Dane Soren Kjeldsen, who also shot a 73 at Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club, was handed second place on eight under after Thai-based Scotsman Simon Yates double bogeyed the last for a 74 to drop to a share of third with big-hitting Australian Scott Hend (75).

World number five Ernie Els finished joint fifth with fellow South African Richard Sterne, last week's winner Markus Brier of Austria and Korea's Lee Sung, on 282.

The rain didn't do Kilkenny man Gary Murphy any favours, as he followed Saturday's fine 66 with a 81 to slide down the field to finish on five over par 295.

Graeme McDowell coped much better with the conditions, a 71 leaving the Portrush man on on five-under par 283.

Damien McGrane's closing 75 left him one under par for the tournament, while Peter Lawrie's final round 77 saw him finish on seven-over par 295.

Jacquelin has been in contention at all three tournaments this month, finishing second in Portugal and leading for two rounds at last week's China Open, but said there had been no great secret to his improved form.

"Just work and patience and 10 years on the tour," the 32-year-old said. "When you work, it pays. It takes time but this week it worked from Thursday to Sunday.

"When I have the feeling right I hit the ball well and I have been improving on the putting. Just keep working like this and maybe more tournaments will come.

"It is a fantastic moment . . . it is my second win so it is not a surprise anymore."

Jacquelin, who wanted to be a footballer until a knee injury at the age of 13 forced him to switch to golf, won the French junior title in 1993 and turned professional two years later.

It took him 10 years as a professional to get his first European Tour win at the 2005 Madrid Open - which he also led from start to finish

Jacquelin was sopping wet as he collected his trophy and not just because of the torrential rain, his fellow French players having continued the tradition of giving a champagne shower to any winner from their ranks.

"It was very difficult, the wind was really high and the rain came down as well," said Jacquelin. I just tried to save pars and although I had (four) bogeys, the others did too."

The cool Lyonnais lipped out his par putt on the 18th but, with a huge smile on his face, holed for fourth bogey in his last six holes.

Nobody looked like catching Jacquelin after the Frenchman had hit three birdies before the turn although Yates had an outside chance going into the last before a three putt put him back to seven under.

"The rain got me," said the Scot. "The first putt (was) the fastest putt I had all week. It kept rolling, rolling and rolling. I left myself four feet and missed it."

Three-times major winner Els, who destroyed this course to win by 13 shots on 26 under two years ago, finished with a par 72.

"Five back at the start of the day, I guess the conditions made it tough to catch the leaders," the South African said. "I hit the ball good enough but couldn't quite make the putts."

Lee, the best finishing Asian at a tournament no player from the continent has ever won, finished with a 73, his achievement all the more remarkable for the fact that he is deaf. "He's a solid player. Keep working and he's going to have a big future," said Els. "It's amazing. So much of what we do comes from feeling and sound . . . he's doing unbelievable."

Colin Montgomerie had a day to forget, slumping from eight under overnight to three under and a share of 15th after a double bogey and three other dropped shots in a 77.