NATIONWIDE TOUR WINNER KNOX NOW HEADING FOR BIG LEAGUE

No slipping on a banana skin for Russell Knox, pictured with his Nationwide Tour tournament victory trophy (From the Nationwide Tour website).

By Joe Chemycz, US Nationwide Tour Staff
MAINEVILLE, Ohio --Scotland's Russell Knox put the pedal to the metal on Sunday and cruised to his first career victory at the Nationwide Tour's Chiquita Classic. The 26-year old from Inverness began the day with a one-stroke lead and was nearly flawless in posting a 6-under-par 66, good for a three-stroke win and a first-place cheque of $99,000. The victory moved him from No. 27 to No. 5 on the season money, which isn't bad for a guy who started the year with no place to play.
Editor's Note: If Knox maintains a top-25 position on the US Nationwide Tour money table he will automatically gain promotion to the US PGA Tour at the end of the season, joining fellow Scots Martin Laird and Aberdeen-born Michael Sim in the Big League).
"This is the best day of my life, 100 times over," said Knox as he hoisted the silver hardware. "This is very exciting for me because it's my first trophy. On the mini-tours we just get a cheque."
Knox (a prolific money-winner on the satellite Hooters Tour circuit for the past three, started this season as a Nationwide Tour Monday qualifier, got into an event, finished second to win enough money to gain regular Nationwide Tour starts -  and is now in a position to challenge for a berth on the US PGA Tour next year.
"I knew this was possible," said Knox on his sudden successes. "I've played well the last three years since turning pro. I've worked hard and dedicated my whole life to playing professional golf."
The day and the week belonged to Knox, who was never seriously challenged during the final 18 holes at TPC River's Bend.
"I'm super, super happy," he said, not being able to contain his smile. "There are so many good players out here and you have to bring it every week,"
Knox not only brought it, but he owned it this week statistically. He was third in fairways hit, first in greens in regulation and tied for first in putting. He also tied for first with the most birdies (28) and had the fewest bogeys (3) of anyone in the field.
"It's been an unbelievable week," he said.
Knox took his one-stroke lead after 54 holes and stretched it to four by the time he made the turn thanks to birdies at Nos. 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8.
"I always like to get under par before I get over par," he said. "I think I was fortunate that the other guys didn't shoot good scores today. I thought they were all coming at me."
His closest challengers never got off the starting line. Knox kept the pressure on and rolled in another birdie at No. 11 to get to 24-under par.
"My goal was to get to 25-under today," he said. "I thought that was a pretty good number. I definitely expected several players to play well. I knew that at any point any of these guys could catch on fire. I fully expected not to be in the lead at some point, but I guess that never happened."
It didn't because Knox hit nearly every fairway (6 of 7) and every green (8 of 9) on the back nine.
"I was trying to get it on the greens because I felt so good putting," he said. "It took a lot of pressure off me trying to hit it in there close."
Another birdie at No. 15 pushed him to his number (25) and all he needed from there were three solid pars to close it out.
"I tried to stay aggressive," he said. "I was just trying to stay calm and finish the race."
• Russell Knox enjoyed early success this season but hadn't had a top-25 finish since early May:

4/17/11 Fresh Express Classic T2 65 68 66 199 (-11) $52,800 11
5/01/11 South Georgia Classic T44 73 69 76 70 288 (E) $2284.72 12
5/08/11 Stadion Classic at UGA T18 73 67 71 69 280 (-4) $7,443.33 12
5/22/11 BMW Charity Pro-Am T48 72 63 68 75 278 (-8) $2,100.00 14
6/05/11 Melwood Prince George's CUT 73 69 142 (E) 18
6/12/11 The Rex Hospital Open T34 70 68 73 68 279 (-5) $2,608.57 22
6/19/11 Preferred Wichita Open CUT 72 69 141 (-1) 26
7/17/11 Chiquita Classic 1 68 66 63 66 263 (-25) $99,000 5

With his win Russell Knox:
• Collects a first-place cheque for $99,000
• Earns Full-Exempt status for the rest of 2011 and all of 2012
• Moves from No. 27 to No. 5 on the Nationwide Tourmoney list
• Collects his first Nationwide Tour win at the age of 26 years, 26 days
• Becomes the third player in his 20s to win on Tour this year -- Ted Potter, Jr. and Russell Henley
• Becomes the 7th 54-hole leader/co-leader to hold on to win this year