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Tuesday, November 21, 2006

KNOX FINISHES WITH PAR ROUND
- AND DROPS NINE PLACES!

Welshman Rhys Davies finish joint fourth and Scot Russell Knox tied for 13th place in the Western Refining College All-American Classic – one of the principal tournaments of the US college golf season – at El Paso Country Club, Texas.
Walker Cup player Davies had rounds of 68, 69, 68 for an eight-under-par total of 205 over a course arguably too short at 6,837yd (par-71) for the top student golfers who normally are set to play lay-outs in excess of 7,000yd.
Edinburgh-born Rhys, from Bridgend, South Wales and a student at East Tennessee State Universtiy, had four birdies in a row from the 11th in his final round.
Knox, from Inverness, started the final round in joint fourth place and matched the par of 71 – but so high was the standard of play in this tournament for the elite that the Scot slumped nine slots in the final standings.
Russell finished with a bag of 13 birdies over the 54 holes, adding to his total at the first, 15th and 17th in his third round.
Niall Turner (Minnesota University) from Cork had a fine last round of 67 (32-35) which included a hole in one at the 173yd third, only the third ace in the tournament’s history
Turner, who shot 71 and 69 on the opening day, finished in joint seventh place with Spaniard Pablo Martin (Oklahoma State).
Victory went to Chris Kirk (Georgia) with a tournament low score of 18 under par 195. His rounds were 65, 66 and 64. In his final round, he covered the inward half in 29 shots with an eagle and four birdies – further proof that a longer course is needed.
Kirk won by five shots from Billy Horschel (Florida)

FINAL TOTALS
195 Chris Kirk (Georgia) 65 66 64.
200 Billy Horschel (Florida) 71 62 67.
202 Luke List (Vanderbilt) 62 68 72.
205 Rhys Davies (East Tennessee State) 68 69 68, Brendon Todd (Georgia) 69 68 68.
Other scores:
207 Niall Turner (Minnesota) 71 69 67, Pablo Martin (Oklahoma State) 69 69 69 (jt 7th).
208 Russell Knox (Jacksonville) 71 66 71(jt 13th).