KELLETT LEADS IN ITALY WITH A 63

GOLF COPY AND SCORES CREDIT CAL CARSON GOLF AGENCY QUERIES TO COLIN FARQUHARSON TEL 01224 869782   KELLETT SHOOTS EIGHT-UNDER 63  FOR ITALY LEAD   Motherwell's Ross Kellett shot one of the lowest scores of his golfing career - an eight-under-par 63, to lead by one shot at the end of the first round of this week's Alps Tour event, the Montecchia Open at the Golf Club della Montecchia in Italy. Kellett began with a bogey and then fired nine birdies in the next 17 holes. He birdied the short second, the fifth and sixth to be out in 33 before coming home in six-under 30 with birdies at the long 12th, the 13th, 15th, 16th, short 17th and long 18th. Fellow Scots Kris Nicol and Philip McLean from the North-east had contrasting fortunes. Nicol was three over par after seven holes but covered his last 11 holes in four under par for a 70 (38-32). He is joint 26th. McLean had a 77 after taking 41 blows for the inward half, including double bogey 6s at the 10th and 13th. He is tied for 106th place.   ALPS TOUR - MONTECCHIA OPEN - Golf Club della Montecchia, Italy LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES Par 71 63 Ross Kellett (co) 64 Dominque Nouailhac (Fra) 65 Tom Sherreard (Eng) SELECTED SCORES 68 Jason Palmer (Eng) (T17) 70 Kris Nicol (Sco) (T26) 77 Philip McLean (Sco) (T106).   ends