Shelton native Nick Cook helps Amateurs snap skid at Challenge Cup
Now 36, Cook, a
"It was extremely tough (to give it up)," Cook said. "There were stretches where I really battled with my putting or ball-striking. Going week to week, starting over to try and get things figured is difficult with so many good players out there."
Now Cook plays very sparingly. He was a captain's pick for the Connecticut State Golf Association Amateurs in the 47th edition of the Julius Boros Challenge Cup held Thursday at
The State Amateurs ended the PGA pros' six-year winning streak in the Challenge Cup. The amateurs won convincingly 36.5-26.5.
Cook graduated from
But by 2008, Cook was in the insurance business (and still is) and had regained his amateur status. He last played in the Challenge Cup in 2009. The Amateurs won that year, then the next two after that before the pros won six straight.
"Team events are fun. We don't get to do it very often. It's nice in an individual sport to have this camaraderie and people rooting for you versus every man for himself, which is what it usually is," Cook said. "The competitive juices are still there. Every golfer know what they are capable of and want to play well, but the difference is the expectations. At the end of the day, if I don't play well now, I write it off, go about my life and don't worry about it. When it's your career, it's harder to let poor performances go."
Cook was a co-medalist in last year's Connecticut Amateur held at Tashua Knolls GC. He is not playing in the Amateur this year at CC of Waterbury in June and may not play in the Connecticut Open, being held at New Haven CC this summer.
All former Connecticut Open champions get a 10-year exemption. So if Cook were to play, he would have to qualify.
"My career is more important than my golfing career at this point," Cook said. "(Young players) should go in with their eyes wide open. There are a ton of great players, not just in the
Five years ago,
He, too, gave up competitive golf and regained his amateur status last year. On Thursday, Conroy, a member at New Haven CC and a captain's pick for the Amateurs like Cook, defeated the club's head pro,
Speaking of captain's picks,
But she is better known nationwide as the vice president of the PGA of America. She will likely become the organization's first president in November.
Whaley played in her first Challenge Cup in 2002 -- the year it was postponed to September due to inclement weather. Just a couple of weeks later, she won the 2002 Connecticut PGA Championship. That win came with an exemption to play in the 2003 Greater Hartford Open (now Travelers Championship).
"I love to play golf. I work on my game a lot despite how busy my calendar is because I think it is important to keep your skills at a high level as a PGA professional. It doesn't mean I always play great. I bring my clubs everywhere I go."
47th Challenge Cup
(at New Haven CC)
CSGA def. Connecticut Section PGA 36.5-26.5
Group 1:
Group 2:
Group 3:
Group 4:
Group 5:
Group 6:
Group 7:
joseph.morelli
@hearstmediact.com; @nhrJoeMorelli
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