ROSS KELLETT JOINT SIXTH FINISH IN SLOVENIAN OPEN

Motherwell's rookie tour pro Ross Kellett finished joint sixth in the Alps Tour's Slovenian Open at Ptuj Golf Club today . Kellett shot rounds of 69-71-70 for a three-under-par total of 210 over the par-71 circuit. He earned 1,420 Euros for the performance, boosting his earnings from five Alps Tour events to 4,659 Euros and lifting him into second place behind Jack Senior from Lancashire in the Rookie of the Year table. A double bogey 5 at the short 14th cost Kellett fifth place. Another Scottish rookie, Kris Nicol from Fraserburgh earned 542 Euros for a joint 24th place finish on 216 with scores of 72, 75 and 69. Winner of the 5,800 Euros top prize was 30-year-old Englishman Chris McDonnell who beat Frenchman Thomas Fournier at the first hole of a play-off after they had both finished on eight-under 205. McDonnell scored 68-64-73, Fournier 67-71-67. It was McDonnell's first win as a pro.   LEADING FINAL TOTALS Par 213 (3x71) 205 Chris McDonnell (Eng) 68 64 73, Thomas Fournier (Fra) 67 71 67. McDonnell (5,800 Euros) bt Fournier (3,940 Euros) in play-off. 206 Julien Foret (Fra) 72 67 677 (2,560 Euros) 207 Tom Shereard (Eng) 70 67 70 (2,220 Euros) SELECTED TOTALS 210 Ross Kellett (Sco) 69 71 70, Ricki Neil-Jones (Eng) 68 74 68 (T6) (1,420 Euros each). 211 Jason Palmer (Eng) 71 70 70 (T10) 213 Gareth Shaw (NIre) 67 73 73 T15) 216 Kris Nicol (Sco) 72 75 69 (T24) (542 Euros). 218 Sam Robinson (Eng) 75 72 71 (T31) 226 Richard Kilpatrick (NIr) 70 77 79 (56th)

FROM THE ALPS TOUR WEBSITE
By Agathe Séron

England's Chris McDonnell managed to deal with "first time" pressure to win LUMAR Slovenian Golf Open. He defeated France's Thomas Fournier who signed for a 67 score of the day to tie lead afetr 54 holes.

McDonnell was playing in the last group for this first time in his career. "I was a kind of nervous during first 9 holes" he said. Then I played better but I made a mistake on the 14th misjudging the wind. I ended one foot short and it rolled in the water"

Meanwhile, Thomas Fournier, one group ahead, was leading with -7 as the Englishman was then -6. But the player from Hexham golf club made putt for birdy on the last 2 holes and stay in contention to go into a play off.

A play-off for a trophy was a first time as well for McDonnell. "I hit a very good second shot on the par 5 18th. Thomas missed his tee shot and was in the trees so you couldn't hit the green. I had 2 putts to win and I did."