Stephen Grant congratulates Sebastien Gros on his win. Former professional footballer Stephen Grant may have missed out on his maiden major tournament win in a play-off but the Offaly man took a giant step forward in his bid to make it to one of the game’s major tours when he rose to fifth in the Alps Tour money list.

While he was disappointed not to close out the Open de Saint Francois - Region Guadeloupe in regulation play and eventually lost to a par four by Frenchman Sebastien Gros at the third extra hole, the Birr native has an excellent chance of making the top five money winners who will gain automatic promotion to the Challenge Tour next season.

Scoreboard

“Cheers everyone for the tweets really appreciate them I just came up short in playoff next stop Paris then Madrid for next event,” Grant tweeted.

Here are the highlights from the play-offP

Tied for second with Brendan McCarroll, just a shot hehind Gros entering the third and final round at Golf Internacional de Saint-Francois, Grant is now fifth behid fourth-ranked McCarroll, who closed with a one-over 72 to three shots outside the play-off on five-under.

Playing in the final group for the second time this season, Grant got off to the perfect start with an eagle three at the first and then followed a bogey at the third with a birdie at the ninth to share the lead with nine holes to go.

Stephen GrantWhile he bogeyed the short 11th, he birdied the 16th to regain the lead with a birdie at the 16th, carding a three under 68 to finished tied for the lead with Gros and fellow Frenchman Thomas Linard on eight under.

Linard was eliminated at the first extra hole before Gros eventually edged out Grant with a five foot par save at the 18th after the Irish player had driven into sand and failed with an eight footer for par after coming up short of the green.