Aug. 10, 2006
Hartford Courant Article
Washington, D.C. - Former Georgetown University golfer Nick Cook won the individual title at the Connecticut Open, taking medalist honors in his home state for the second-straight year and becoming the first golfer to win consecutive titles since 1987-88.
Cook, a 2003 graduate who plays on the New England Pro Tour, finished with a three round score of two-under par 211 at the Ridgewood Country Club in Danbury, Connecticut. He out-distanced the field by six strokes, the largest margin of victory at the event in 11 years.
Cook opened up with a five-under par 66 in the first round, shot a two-over par 73 in the second round and closed out with a one-over par 72 for the title, taking home a $10,000 prize.
"It was a new experience for me, as this was my first wire-to-wire win," Cook said via e-mail after the tournament. "I had a four shot lead after round one and it was two shots after round two. There was a pretty strong field and I'm happy to come out on top."
Cook was in the final pairing with Ken Green, a five-time PGA Tour winner and former Ryder Cup selection who makes the Ridgewood Country Club his home course.
Cook has experienced success on the professional level as the win at the Connecticut Open was his fourth individual triumph. He won the first event of his career during the summer of 2005, taking the top spot at the New England Tour's Samoset Open. Cook followed that up with his first Connecticut Open title last August and won the first event on the Florida leg of the Grey Goose Gateway Tour.
"I really worked hard this week on staying positive, and it helped," Cook said. "I didn't let bad shots or bad breaks influence my mindset. Even when my lead grew during the round, I continued to stay focused. Hopefully, it's a sign of good things to come." Cook will be playing in a Nationwide Tour qualifier on Monday in Pennsylvania, and pending that outcome, will be playing in an New England Tour event at Wintonbury Hills in Bloomfield, Connecticut beginning on Tuesday.
