Golfer sells shares in himself
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Two former American college classmates, who were team mates in North District golf teams, are now professional golfers but living different life styles.
Inverness’s Russell Knox stayed on in America at the end of his college years and turned professional in 2007 to join the Florida-based Hooters Tour.
He made a reasonable living on this circuit then his career took off when he received an invitation to play in a Nationwide Tour event in Florida.
The Nationwide Tour is just one step below the full US PGA Tour of the stars, and, after a reasonable first finish, Knox was able to remain on the Nationwide circuit and when he won outright one of their tournaments he had sufficient winnings ($242,811) by the end of the season to gain a full tour card without having, for a third time, to go to the tour qualifying school.
Knox got his first start in last week’s Sony Open in Honolulu and after scoring level par for 36 holes just missed the qualifying cup by one shot.
Alongside Martin Laird, he is now another Scot to follow this season on Sky Sports coverage of American golf. Now Knox has his sights set on playing near to his home town when the Scottish Open gets under way as Castle Stuart in July.
But for his old college friend, Stewart, it is was a disappointing finish to his season when, in last week’s closing 2011/12 event on the PGA EuroPro tour in Spain, he just missed stepping up to the next level, the Challenge Tour.
Based in Grantown on Spey, Stewart had won £10,000 in an earlier EuroPro event which put him into a position to finish amongst the top five money winners who would gain an automatic playing card for the coming season’s Challenge Tour which sits just below the European Tour. With rounds of 67, 65 and 68, Stewart finished in third place earning £3750 which brought his final winnings for 2011 up to £15,405 but only sixth place, an agonising £363 behind the fifth place card earner.
But Stewart is still aiming for the top life and preparing himself for a hard grind by continuing next season as a member of the EuroPro tour, also hoping to gain invites to some Challenge Tour events.
And he has come with a novel way of funding his ambition expenses.
He is putting shares in himself up for sale, hoping to market 150 at £100 per share. He will reward his backers, and hopefully some small business owners, with percentages from his winnings.
Depending on how many shares he sells will determine the returns his investors will get. If he sells 50 shares, Stewart will retain 70 per cent and 30 per cent will be divided out to the shareholders.
If the sales are between 51 to 100 he retains 60 per cent of the winnings and gives 40 per cent to the shareholders. A 101 to 150 take up will return a 50-50 split between himself and the shareholders.
For example, if he sells 150 shares and wins £30,000 next season he will retain £15,000 and each share will be worth £100 and paid out to the share owners at the end of 2012.
In addition, purchasers of ten or more shares will be entitled to have their name or company somewhere on the former two times North District amateur champion’s clothing. Stewart will soon have his own website which will have details of the offer but any interested investors can contact him now by e-mail, duncanstewartgolf@hotmail.co.uk or mobile telephone 07890881042.
Former Open Champion Paul Lawrie’s Golf Foundation, who already support golf pro rookies, David Law, Kris Nicol and Philip MacLean, have come forward and bought ten shares.
