Ferris State's Ben Cook Ties For 10th In 2015 Michigan Open Championship
Click Here For Michigan Open Results
Big Rapids, Mich. - Ferris State University standout golfer Ben Cook (Caledonia/Grand Rapids South Christian), who wrapped up his junior campaign for the Bulldogs this spring, recently placed tied for 10th overall in the 2015 Michigan Open Championship presented by LaFontaine Cadillac, which took place last week at Prestwick Village Golf Club.
Cook, who competed as an amateur, shot a 287 total score for the four rounds of competition. He was near the top of the leaderboard and made the cut with back-to-back 69 scores in the opening two rounds before shooting a 78 in round three and a one-under 71 in the final round to finish at -1 for the tournament.
The 2015 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Golfer of the Year, Cook finished ranked among the top amateurs in the field, which featured more than 70 golfers. Incoming FSU freshman Zach Bialik, who claimed National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-America honors at Grand Rapids Community College this past year, also took part and placed tied for 47th with a nine-over 297 figure.
The Michigan Open Championship included golfers who qualified at one of eight qualifying tournaments held across the state in late May. It was held at prestigious Prestwick Village Golf Club, located just north of Milford in Highland Township. The award-winning and internationally-renowed course along with 26-acre practice facility ranks as one of the Top 50 Ranges in the country according to PGA Magazine.
This year's Michigan Open was the 97th event and ranks as one of the state's longest-running sports events. It was first played in 1916 and won by Leo Diegel, who also played in the inaugural Ryder Cup matches and The Masters.
A 2015 Divison II PING All-Midwest Region Team pick, Cook had his best season on the collegiate level to date for the Bulldogs in the 2014-15 campaign. The three-year letterwinner placed among the top 10 performers in tournament action in nine of FSU's 11 regular-season competitions this season, including five of six outings this spring.
This year, Cook twice earned medalist honors in tournament action and also claimed runner-up laurels on two other occassions. Overall, the FSU standout recorded eight top-five finishes in the 2014-15 campaign. His performance helped the Bulldogs to their 13th-straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
Along with earning the GLIAC Golfer of the Year honor, Cook was also named to the All-GLIAC First Team. He claimed all-league laurels for the first time in his collegiate career this season. By earning the league's top honor, Cook became the first FSU golfer to receive the GLIAC Men's Golfer of the Year honor since former standout Eric Lilleboe in 2009-10.
This past season, the Bulldogs placed 16th overall in the 2015 NCAA Midwest/Central Super Regional in the program's 13th-straight NCAA appearance. Ferris State's current 13-year NCAA Championship appearance streak in men's golf ranks as one of the longest active stretches in the country.