 |
 Matt Cook was Western Carolina's only four-time, All-Southern Conference selection and a three-time NCAA Championships qualifier. |
 |
Aug. 17, 2008
LIVE SCORING of the U.S. Amateur
Cullowhee, N.C. - Former Western Carolina men's golf great Matt Cook qualified for the United States Amateur Championship, which begins this weekend with practice rounds. The event will be held at the storied Pinehurst No. 2 course in Pinehurst, N.C., site of the 1999 U.S. Open won by the late Payne Stewart.
"Matt qualifying for the US Amateur Championship is one of the biggest accomplishments for an individual in terms of amateur golf," said WCU head coach Gorham Bradley, who will be in Pinehurst with Cook through the tournament. "Everybody within the Western Carolina family, as well as nationally, recognizes the career Cook had as a player at WCU and as an amateur."
A first-time qualifier, Cook earned his spot in the section held at the Colgate University's Seven Oaks Golf Course just outside Hamilton, N.Y. The Murphy, N.C., native carded consecutive rounds of 72 and 68, making him one of four individuals to qualify out of the Hamilton tournament.
"(Cook qualifying) speaks volumes about the type of players we have in our men's golf program," concluded Bradley. "We have talked about Matt Cook for many years. This is just the icing on the cake to how he ends his storied amateur career."
|
|
 |
In his final season in Cullowhee, the 2006 SoCon Player of the Year averaged an even-par, 72, through 12 events and 34 total rounds to post the second-best, single-season round in school history. All told, Cook holds four of the top five single-season scoring averages including the lowest three all-time. He concluded his four-year playing career as the school's all-time career stroke average leader (72.11). He recorded 25 top 10 individual finishes including 18 inside the top five with nine individual medalist honors, twice garnering the top finish at the SoCon Men's Golf Championship.
The stroke play portion of the tournament, which will be held on Pinehurst Course No. 2 and No. 4, will cut the field to 64 on Monday and Tuesday, with the tournament bracket-style, match play to follow beginning Wednesday.
