RUSSELL KNOX WINS $99,000 FOR FIRST NATIONWIDE TOUR VICTORY

OPPORTUNITY KNOX! Russell Knox has the best Sunday of his golfing career. Picture by courtesy of Getty Images (c).

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Inverness-born Russell Knox tried in vain to get an invitation to the recent Barclays Scottish Open at Castle Stuart. Apparently, he didn't have enough on his US pro golf CV to swing a place on the European Tour event.

He does now!
Today, Knox won in only his ninth event on American's No 2 pro circuit, the Nationwide Tour.
The 26-year-old former Scotland youth cap did it with brilliant scoring - a 25 under par total of 263 to win the Chiquita Classic at TPC Rivers Bend, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Knox's cash prize was his highest ever, $99,000 to add to the $70,947 he had won from his first eight events on the Nationwide Tour after several years of money-making on the Hooters Tour.

Knox had 28 birdies and only three bogeys over the 54 holes with rounds of 68, 66, 63 and 66 over a par-72 lay-out.

He won by three shots from American Billy Hurley (67-65-70-64).

Englishman Greg Owen, who lost his US PGA Tour card at the end of last season, tied for third place on 268 with rounds of 67, 70, 64 and 67.

Another Englishman in the field, Gary Christian, tied for 27th place on 275 with scores of 70, 69, 67 and 69.
Knox's stats in the event were impressive. He was only 41st in the driving table but still average 300yd off the tee. He led the way in hitting greens in regulation with an 84.50% average and he was also No in in restricting his putts per green hit in regulation to 1.550.
Russell's family home was quite close to where they have built the Castle Stuart course. He left - and didn't come back - to go to America and spent four successful years (in the company of Duncan Stewart of Grantown on Spey) on the US college golf circuit as a student at Jacksonville University, Florida.
He stayed on at Jacksonville Beach after graduating and turned pro over there, becoming one of the most consistent money-winners on the Hooters Tour, one of America's leading satellite circuits.
Earlier this season he won a place in a Nationwide Tour event through the Monday qualifying system - and finished second, winning a big enough cheque to earn him a regular place on American's No 2 pro circuit.
As far as playing in the Barclays Scottish Open at Castle Stuart is concerned, Russell told Scottishgolfview.com:
"I did send a letter and E-mail this year but no luck. I would love nothing better than to play in that event now that it has moved to Castle Stuart which is only a 10 min drive from my old house."