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 Matt Cook won the 2006 SoCon Men's Golf Championship and was named the league's men's golf Player of the Year. |
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April 18, 2006
Hollywood, S.C. - Western Carolina sophomore Matt Cook carded a 69 on the final day and posted a 54-hole score of five-under par 211 to become the 2006 Southern Conference men's golf individual champion, played at The Links at Stono Ferry. The Murphy, N.C., native becomes just the second Catamount to accomplish the feat, joining 1987 SoCon champion Kelly Leonhardt. (Bruce Kullman tied for the low 54-hole score in 1991, but lost in a playoff.). It was also announced at the conclusion of the three-day event that Cook was named SoCon Men's Golfer of the Year and first team All-SoCon selection, as selected by the league's coaches. (Kullman was WCU's only other SoCon Player of the Year, a feat he accomplished in 1991.)
The Catamounts fired a 296 on the final day, but were unable to move up from its second round ranking to finish ninth. While Western only placed ninth, its 903 total ranks as the team's fourth-best, 54-hole total at the championships. Georgia Southern won the team title with a three-day total of 867, 12 strokes better than second-place College of Charleston.
Cook won by three strokes over Georgia Southern's Bryan Jones. Also, his 211 ties for Western's best 54-hole scores at the Championships, a total Greg Lewis tallied while tying for fourth in 2002. His final round started on a sour note as he bogeyed the 10th hole, which was his first hole on the day. However, he responded with a birdie and closed his front nine with five pars and birdies on 15 and 18. He then reeled off eight pars and a birdie on the par five fifth to record his three-under par round of 69. It was the sixth time Cook had turned in a 69 for a single round in his career and fourth time this season. Also, it was just the third time a Catamount had fired a 69 at the Championships as Lewis had back-to-back rounds of 69 en route to his 211.
"Today, Matt showed what a great champion he is," said WCU head men's golf coach Gorham Bradley. "He went out and did was he needed to do to win, while making it look easy. That is what great players do."
In being named SoCon Golfer of the Year, Cook, who placed among the top five in all five WCU spring events, led the league and shattered the WCU single-season scoring, averaging 71.52 strokes per round. In 10 events, he ranked among the individual top 10 eight times, including seven top five finishes. Also on the season, he won three events and had two runner-up finishes. Cook was a two-time SoCon Men's Golfer of the Month this past season as well as its SoCon Men's Golfer of the Week on two occasions.
"Being named Player of the Year is huge statement for Matt and the program," Bradley said. "The honor recognizes the best player from both the fall and spring. Matt played at a high level versus some of the best competition in the nation. This honor will open doors for both him and the program."
One of the doors Bradley is hoping to have opened for his star player is an at-large invitation to the NCAA Regional Championship, which will be announced at the conclusion of the conferences' championship season.
Western had all five golfers improve on their second-round scores. Leading the way was Tripp Morrow, who improved by six strokes on the final day. His 73 on Tuesday gave him a 228 for the championship, tying him for 30th. Seniors Matt Flueckiger, Keith Tyburski and Blake Wray concluded their careers this week. Flueckiger carded a total 233 to finish 39th, Tyburski tallied a 237 to tied for 42nd and Wray compiled a 239 to finish 44th. On the all-time WCU scoring list, Wray wraps up his career with a stroke average of 77.36 to rank 17th. Tyburski's career stroke average of 78.22 to rank 17th on the WCU all-time scoring list, while Flueckiger's career stroke average of 78.59 to tie for 21st on the WCU all-time list.
All-Southern Conference First Team
Matt Cook, Western Carolina
Neil O'Briain, Wofford
Jon David Kennedy, Georgia Southern
Bryce Ledford, Chattanooga
Jonathan Hodge, Chattanooga
All-Southern Conference Second Team
Tucker Ervin, College of Charleston
Nathan Stamey, UNC Greensboro
Jimmy Lytle, UNC Greensboro
Drew Bowen, Georgia Southern
Bryan Jones, Georgia Southern
Southern Conference Men's Golf Player of the Year
Matt Cook, Western Carolina
Southern Conference Men's Golf Freshman of the Year
Neil 0'Briain, Wofford
Southern Conference Men's Golf Coach of the Year
Mark Guhne, Chattanooga
For complete scores and statistics, please check the links below:
2006 Southern Conference Championships Team Scores 1 Georgia Southern 292 289 286 867 +3 2 College of Charleston 287 297 295 879 +15 3 Chattanooga 287 302 294 883 +19 4 Elon 303 289 293 885 +21 5 Davidson 305 297 288 890 +26 6 Wofford 303 301 287 891 +27 7 UNC Greensboro 292 296 308 896 +32 8 Furman 306 298 297 901 +37 9 Western Carolina 297 310 296 903 +39 10 Appalachian State 305 314 314 933 +69
2006 Southern Conference Championships Top Individuals 1 Matt Cook, Western Carolina U. 70 72 69 211 −5 2 Bryan Jones, Georgia Southern 74 71 69 214 −2 3 Drew Bowen, Georgia Southern 76 68 71 215 −1 T4 Scott Larkin, Charleston, Coll. of 69 75 73 217 +1 T4 Neil O'Briain, Wofford College 71 77 69 217 +1 T4 Nathan Stamey, N. Car.- Greensboro 73 71 73 217 +1
WCU Indivudal Scores at the 2006 Southern Conference Championships 1 Matt Cook 70 72 69 211 T30 Tripp Morrow 76 79 73 228 39 Matt Flueckiger 74 82 77 233 T42 Keith Tyburski 77 81 79 237 44 Blake Wray 84 78 77 239
2006 SoCon Men's Golf Championships Final Results/Stats in PDF Format
