COOLEY BEAT STEWART AT FIFTH EXTRA HOLE ON ALPS TOUOR

FROM THE ALPS TOUR WEBSITE

Andrew Cooley, finally ended his Egyptian story after the fifth extra hole of a sudden-death play-off against Scotland's Michael Stewart. The Englishman from Chobham, Woking in Surrey won the inaugural Red Sea Ain Bay Open. 

Italy's Andrea Maestroni is third and certainly regrets dropping one shot on last hole to miss the play off.

Overnight leader Andrea Rota dropped three shots on his first four holes of the final round and eventually finished joint fourth.

Meanwhile, former Walker Cup player Stewart, from Troon, who teed off one hour before last group was leading at the clubhouse as he signed for best score of the day, 66 for -7 total. 

Maestroni was -7 tie with one to play but failed to save par on the 18^th.

Italy's hope rested upon Rota's shoulders. He holed for birdie on 12^th and again on 15^th. He had two holes to play and had to made another birdie to join Cooley and Stewart. He hit the 17^th par 5 in two but his 3 putts stunned him. He made the same mistake on last hole and slipped for joint fourth.

The final battle took place on the 18^th hole, a par 4 with water in play on the right on second shot. Many British players sat next to the green to attend the show and it worth it. Micheal Stewart and Andrew Cooley played more than one extra hour to decide who was the winner.

The first two extra holes was without suspense, tee shot, green, 2 putts, next. Then Cooley, at the third extra hole, hit the green and haf a putt of around five feet to win as his opponent missed the green and had par. Cooley missed and his supporters felt disappointed and started to be impatient. 

On the fourth extra hole, both flew over the green but managed to halve the hole in par.

Finally the water played its role of justice of the peace on 5^th and last hole. Both players hit their second shot from waste area but Stewart ended in the water hazard and missed the green with fourth shot. Cooley was less then 40cm to the cup and holed for maiden win and become first "Alps Tour Pharaoh".

"I led twice last year in the last group and it really helped me today. I stayed calm. I played really solid. It is my maiden win as pro and I am very happy, obviously," said Cooley who played for four years on the US college circuit.

Stewart had put in a great final round of 66 with a total bag of seven birdies, four of them over his last seven holes - at the 12th, 13th, 14th and 17th.

Fellow Scot Ross Kellett, ahead of Stewart with one round to play, slipped to a 75 on the last circuit for a share of 11th place on 215.

Fraserburgh's Kris Nicol finished joint 22nd on 217 after closing with a 72.

Ross Cameron from Ellon closed with a 73 for joint 32nd position on 221.  

ALPS TOUR - RED SEA BAY OPEN
Sokhna GC, Egypt 
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
209 Andrew Cooley (Eng) 69 69 71, Michael Stewart (Sco) 67 76 66 (Cooley won play-off at fifth extra hole).
210 Andrew Maestroni (Ita) 73 69 68
211 Phlip Kelly (Eng) 70 71 70, Fernando Adarraga (Spa) 69 69 73, Andrew Rota (Ita) 66 71 74
SELECTED TOTALS
215 Ross Kellett (Sco) 71 69 75, Jason Palmer (EWng) 70 71 74 (T11)
217 Kris Nicol (Sco) 70 756 72 (T22)
221 Ross Cameron (Sco) 75 73 73 (T32).