Knox, who spent four years on a golf scholarship at Jacksonville University, came through the first qualifying stage with ease, but in stage two, which was played over the Hombre Golf Club, Panama City Beach, Florida, he put together his worst four consecutive rounds of the season just at the wrong time.

The exile returned cards of 70, 74, 72, and 73 for 289 to leave him well behind the leading 19 players who qualified for the next stage.

A triple bogey seven at the 12th hole in his fourth round was typical of the form he took to the second stage qualifier after winning the stage one event.

"I wish I could have played better but I will keep trying until I make it," said Knox, who earned $60,000 on the Hooters professional satellite golf tour last year.

"I know I have the game to play at the higher level. I just need to keep practising harder until I get there."

Meanwhile, two Nairn-based golfers attending Stirling University - Kelsey MacDonald and Eilidh MacKay - have been included in the universities women's golf team of seven who will again compete in Florida's Orange Blossom women's Winter Tour next January.

The group will play in the same three events as 12 months ago - the Harder Hall Invitational at Sebring between 6th and 9th January, the South Atlantic Amateur Championship at Oceanside Country Club between 13th and 16th January and the Jones/Doherty matchplay at Coral Ridge Country Club, Fort Lauderdale between 18th to 23rd January.

This is MacDonald's second inclusion in the squad. Twelve months ago she was the best of the group with a third place in the South Atlantic championship and runner-up in the matchplay at Coral Ridge. It is MacKay's first visit to Florida.

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