KNOX FINISHES STRONGLY TO TIE FOR


FOURTH PLACE ON HOOTERS TOUR

Former Scotland youth international Russell Knox from Inverness, based at Jacksonville Beach, Florida since his student days at Jacksonville University, finished joint fourth in this week's NGA Hooters Tour event at Diamond Back Golf Club, Haines City in Central Florida.
Knox, pictured right, had rounds of 69, 66 and 69 for a 12-under-par total of 204, which earned him $3,424.
The Scot, pictured right, bogeyed the second hole in his final round but picked up some momentum with birdies at the third, fifth and 12th before a bogey at the 15th looked being a costly slip. But he finished strongly with birdies at the long 16th and short 17th to finish four shots behind the winner of the $12,179 first prize, Ryan Gildersleeve from Clearwater, Florida.
The American had rounds of 66, 65 and 70 for a 15-under-par total of 201 to win by one stroke from Philip Mollica from Anderson, South Carolina, with scores of 68, 68 and 66 for 202 and a $5,962 pay-out. .
Englishman Paul Maddy, who led the first round with a 65, drifted to joint 29th position with subsequent scores of 74 and 73 for a four-under total of 222 and a pay slip for $872.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
201 Ryan Gildersleeve (Clearwater, Florida) 66 65 70 ($12,179).
202 Philip Mollica (Anderson, South Carolina) 68 68 66 ($5,962).
204 Jeff Corr (Longwood, Florida) 69 66 69 ($4,947).
205 Russell Knox (Inverness, Scotland) 66 70 69, Patrick Nagle (Pacifica, California) 66 69 70, Matt McQuillan (Kingston, Oregon) 69 65 71 ($3,424 each).
Selected score:
212 Paul Maddy (Cambridge, England) 65 74 73 (jt 29th) ($872).