TRIPLE BOGEY SCUPPERS ROSS KELLETT IN MOROCCO

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
A triple bogey 7 at the birdie-able seventh hole (only 383yd) killed Ross Kellett's dreams of a first win as a professional in the Alps Tour's Palmeraie Open at Marrakesh, Morocco today.
The 24-year-old Motherwell rookie had to be content with a share of fourth place and a financial reward of 1,425 Euros for scores of 67, 68 and 73 for an eight-under-par total fo 208.
Disappointing but still an encouraging performance by the Scot who finished eight shots behind an "unknown" American, Tim O'Neal, pictured right with the trophy, who won first prize of 5,000 Euros by three shots with three great scores of 66-67-67 for 16-under 200.
Jack Senior did best of the clutch of GB and I 2011 Walker Cup heroes in the field. The Lancashire rookie finished third on 207 with scores of 69, 67 and 71 to collect 2,000 Euros.
Murrayshall's Gavin Dear finished joint sixth on 210 with rounds of 67-73-70. He earned 1,027 Euros. But for a double bogey 7 at the 18th in Round 2, he could have made the top four or five.
Buchan rookies Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh) and Philip McLean (Peterhead) both finished under par for the 54 holes and earned their first money outwith the North-east Alliance circuit.
Nicol, who topped the Alps Tour Final Qualifying School,. came joint 25th on 214 (71-72-71) and received 365 Euros. He was on course for a top-20 finish after four birdies in the first 12 holes of his last round but then stumbled to bogeys at the 13th, long 16th and short 17th.
McLean totalled 215 (70-74-71) and earned 337 Euros.
+There's frost everywhere at the moment - even in Morocco where it was minus three degrees overnight. Frost-bound greens meant a 75min delay in the start of the final round.


LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72) Prize money in Euros
200 Tim O'Neal (United States) 66 67 67 (5,000).
203 Matteo Delpodio (Italy) 69 67 67 (3,000).
207 Jack Senior (England) 69 67 71 (2,000).
208 Ross Kellett (Scotland) 67 68 73, Andrew Cooley (England) 70 69 69 (1,425 each).

SELECTED TOTALS
210 Gavin Dear (Scotland) 67 73 70 (T6) (1,027).
211 Richard Kilpatrick (N Ireland) 69 71 71 (T11) .
213 Matthew Cryer (England) 69 71 73, Steven Brown (England) 74 69 70 (T19).
214 Kris Nicol (Scotland) 71 72 71, Stiggy Hodgson (England) 74 70 70, Jack Clarke (England) 68 73 73  (T25) (365 each)
215 Philip McLean (Scotland) 70 74 71, Gareth Shaw (Ireland) 69 71 75 (T30).
220 Warren Harmston (England) 72 6 8 80 (T44) (337 each).