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 Matt Cook, who has won two of his three events to date this season, is the top-ranked player in the NCAA Division I according to Golfstat. |
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Oct. 26, 2006
Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina junior Matt Cook is rated as the top male golfer in NCAA Division I, according to Golfstat.com, while teammate Andres Cuenca is raked 35th. Cook, who was mentioned on the most recent Golf Channel's "College Central" for moving up from 10th in the previous ranking to his current spot, owns a 68.86 strokes per round average (seven rounds), second only to Chris Cole's (San Diego State) 68.33 average over three rounds. The Murphy, N.C., native was able to make his move after posting rounds of 65-67 for a school-record 132 in winning the Liberty/Frank Landrey Invitational.
"Today is a very special day for the Western Carolina University men's golf program and one that I hope people from WCU will always remember," said head coach Gorham Bradley. "To have the top-ranked, as well as the #35th-ranked, collegiate golfer in the NCAA Division I rankings speaks very highly of the direction that our program is heading."
Click the link below to see the most recent Golfstat, NCAA Division I Rankings:
Golfstat NCAA Division I Men's Golf Rankings
Over his last four rounds, which included two individual titles, Cook is 22 strokes under par with rounds of 67, 67, 65 and 67. According to Golfstat.com, he is fourth in the nation in subpar strokes per round at 5.43, helping the Catamounts rank seventh nationally in par four scoring (4.10). In three events this season, Cook has two wins and a seventh-place finish, as the Catamounts have three top 10 finishes and two team titles. For his career, he has played in 20 events and has 16 top 10's, including 13 top five's, while winning seven times. Cook's career stroke average over those 20 events (54 rounds) is an impressive 71.91.
"Cook's development in our program has been very exciting for all of those involved with WCU Golf," Bradley said. "Personally, I feel that we are just beginning to see the ability that Cook has to play the game of golf and, as he continues to mature mentally, expect him to continue to be successful."
 Andres Cuenca ranks 35th in the Golfstat. |
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Cuenca, a sophomore transfer from Fuengirola, Spain, ranks 35th in the Golfstat rankings with his season stroke average of 70.86. Cuenca has placed among the top 10 in each of his three events, including a runner-up finish to Cook at Liberty due to his 66 in the final round.
"Andres has made a huge impact in our program thus far," Bradley said. "It has not only been his caliber of play, but his work ethic and attitude have been contagious within the team."
The Catamounts will return to action Oct. 30-31 at the Charleston Southern Invitational, played at Crowfield Plantation Country Club (Charleston, S.C.). The team will host its annual WCU Intercollegiate Nov. 4-5 at Etowah Valley Country Club (Hendersonville, N.C.).
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