US Tour School Stage 2

KNOX HAS MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB IN LAST ROUND Florida-based Inverness exile Russell Knox faces the mammoth task of leapfrogging over at least 22 players in the final round if he is to qualify for the US PGA Tour Final Qualifying School in early December. Knox is level par and in joint 42nd place after three rounds of the Stage 2 event at Hombre Golf Club, Panama City Beach, Florida, having shot a par-matching 72 for 216 today after opening with scores of 70 and 74. Only the leading 20 and ties at this venue after Saturday's fourth and final round will go on to the six-round eliminator at Bear Lakes, West Palm Beach Florida from December 2 to 7. Knox, one of the top money-winners on the Hooters Tour, has not carried over his form on that circuit. In the third round, he birdied the second and fifth - so far, so good. Then, uncharacteristically, he covered the last 10 holes in three over par with bogeys at the par-4 ninth, short 11th and short 13th holes. Not like Russell at all! Ayrshire man Robert McKnight has no chance of making the leading 19 and ties in the Stage 2 event at Deerwood Golf Club, Kingwood, Texas after rounds of 73, 80 and 77 for 14-over-par 230. He is lying 73rd of the 75 players still in the field (the 76th withdrew).