Motherwell’s Ross Kellett has refused to become distracted by the Scottish Open and the Open as he focuses his golfing energies on the European Challenge Tour.

The 27-year-old hit a three-under 68 in the opening round of the SSE Scottish Hydro Challenge at Macdonald Spey Valley to sit four off the early lead held by Englishman Gary Boyd.

Kellett could have entered qualifying for the Scottish Open and the Open over the next week but the former Scotland amateur cap has opted out of the scramble to keep his Challenge Tour campaign on track.

Kellett, a winner on the third-tier Alps Tour in 2012, said: “I think it’s important to stay focused at this time of the season. We have important events in Germany, Slovakia and Tenerife coming up and trying to qualify for the Scottish Open or the Open would have disrupted my schedule.

“There are valuable ranking points up for grabs and I need to focus on my week-to-week job instead of chasing my tail.”

Kelllett, who had a share of ninth on Challenge Tour duty in Madrid earlier in the season, burst out of the blocks at Spey Valley with a birdie on his first hole – the 11th – before chipping in from 25 yards on the 13th for an eagle.

He added: “I playing pretty well at the moment and I’m quite happy with my progress. I played in the fourth last group in that Madrid event and that gave me the feelings of being in contention. That’s where you want to be and anytime you get a taste of being in the hunt, it will stand you in good stead. Hopefully I get another chance this week.”

Glasgow’s Scottish PGA champion Chris Kelly opened with a one-under 70 while Kirkhill amateur Craig Ross, who won among the professionals on the PGA EuroPro Tour last season, also posted a one-under score.