News >> Knox Riding Hot Streak Into Knoxville

Current and past players galore in Nationwide, PGA Tourneys
 
Longs, SC—Russell Knox has been hot of late. In fact, he’s been scorching. The former Jacksonville (Fla.) University golfer finished third at the Michelob Ultra Classic and followed that with a smoldering 29-under par total in the Gold Strike Casino Golf Classic en route to an eight-stroke win, his second  his second career win on the NGA Hooters Tour.
 
While he cooled off a little bit in the Chattahoochee Hospice Classic, finishing T53, Knox’s earlier exploits earned him an exemption into the Nationwide Tour’s Knoxville News Sentinel Open, one of six Nationwide Tour exemptions secured by the NGA Hooters Tour this season.
 
“When I found out I had the exemption I was driving home from the event in Georgia and I think I was happier knowing I had this opportunity than when I won the previous week,” said Knox. “I have played well on the Hooters Tour the past three years, but feel I am little behind the curve on playing on the Nationwide Tour… I just want to thank the Hooters Tour and the News Sentinel Knoxville Open committee for this opportunity.”
 
This will be Knox’s second start on the Nationwide Tour. The 26-year-old golfer made one start last season on the Nationwide Tour.
 
Joining Knox in Knoxville will be nearly 80 past and present NGA Hooters Tour players. Current NGA members Ben Briscoe, Michael Lavery, Travis Bertoni, Roberto Castro, Manuel Villegas, Juan Lizarralde and Rob Oppenheim are also in this week’s field. Lavery, Villegas, Lizarralde and Briscoe were able to make it through the Monday Qualifier, while Bertoni was able to make it in by finishing T9 in the Price Cutter Charity Championship. Castro has rocketed up the money list with his stellar play of late, amassing over $80,000 in winnings and moving into 53rd in earnings, and Oppenheim currently sits 69th in earnings.
 
The Knoxville News Sentinel Open has been good to former NGA Hooters Tour players. NGA Hooters Tour alumni Vaughn Taylor, Heath Slocum, Robin Freeman, Eric Johnson and Tim Conley have all won the event in the past.
 
On the PGA Tour, over 30 former NGA Hooters Tour golfers will start the FedExCup Playoffs this week at the Barclay’s. Former NGA Hooters Tour players have amassed nine wins on the PGA Tour this year.
 
Former NGA Hooters Tour Players in the Barclays:
 
  1. Blake Adams
  2. Kris Blanks
  3. Jason Bohn
  4. Chad Campbell
  5. Steward Cink
  6. Chad Collins
  7. Ben Curtis
  8. Brendon de Jonge
  9. Robert Garrigus
  10. Brian Gay
  11. Tom Gillis
  12. Lucas Glover
  13. Zach Johnson
  14. Jerry Kelly
  15. Derek Lamely
  16. Michael Letzig
  17. Spencer Levin
  18. Bill Lunde
  19. Sean O’Hair
  20. Ryan Palmer
  21. Scott Piercy
  22. Chris Riley
  23. John Rollins
  24. John Senden
  25. Heath Slocum
  26. Kevin Streelman
  27. Vaughn Taylor
  28. Josh Teeter
  29. David Toms
  30. Camilo Villegas
  31. Bubba Watson
  32. Boo Weekley
  33. Garrett Willis
 
 
 
 
 
 
Past and Present NGA Players in Knoxville News Sentinel Open:
 
  1. Mark Anderson
  2. Ryan Armour
  3. Brian Bateman
  4. Camilo Benedetti
  5. Travis Bertoni (Current Member)
  6. Craig Bowden
  7. Keegan Bradley
  8. David Branshaw
  9. D.J. Brigman
  10. Ben Briscoe (Current Member)
  11. Josh Broadaway
  12. Scott Brown
  13. Ted Brown
  14. Andrew Buckle
  15. Roberto Castro (Current Member)
  16. Michael Clark II
  17. Paul Claxton
  18. John Daly
  19. Robert Damron
  20. Matt Davidson
  21. Bryan DeCorso
  22. Brent Delahoussaye
  23. Bubba Dickerson
  24. Ken Duke
  25. Todd Fischer
  26. Nick Flanagan
  27. Martin Flores
  28. Tommy Gainey
  29. Josh Gallman
  30. Robert Gamez
  31. Chad Ginn
  32. Kelly Grunewald
  33. Scott Gutschewski
  34. Ty Harris
  35. Jim Herman
  36. Justin Hicks
  37. Brandt Jobe
  38. Kent Jones
  39. Clark Klaasan
  40. J.J. Killeen
  41. Chris Kirk
  42. Kevin Kisner
  43. Russell Knox (Current Member)
  44. Cliff Kresge
  45. Bronson LaCassie
  46. Michael Lavery (Current Member)
  47. Luke List
  48. Juan Lizarralde (Current member)
  49. Peter Malnati
  50. David Mathis
  51. Ben Martin
  52. William McGirt
  53. Fernando Mechereffe
  54. Adam Meyer
  55. Madalisto Muthiya
  56. Rob Oppenheim (Current Member)
  57. Justin Peters
  58. Stephen Poole
  59. Ewan Porter
  60. Aron Price
  61. Kyle Reifers
  62. Tag Ridings
  63. John Riegger
  64. Jason Schultz
  65. Justin Smith
  66. Nathan Smith
  67. Sal Spallone
  68. Scott Stallings
  69. B.J. Staten
  70. Scott Sterling
  71. Darron Stiles
  72. Brian Stuard
  73. Andrew Svoboda
  74. Kyle Thompson
  75. Jerod Turner
  76. Manuel Villegas (current member)
  77. Brian Vranesh
  78. Ron Whittaker
  79. Casey Wittenberg
  80. Gary Woodland