Michigan Golf Journal August 2019

In an unlikely set of events last August, a young golf professional won a major Michigan tournament – but didn’t lift the trophy in celebration. Huh? Surprisingly to most fans, that’s what happened to Caledonia’s Ben Cook, an assistant pro at Cascade Hills CC at the time, who won the 2018 PGA Championship at Flint Golf Club. Cook fired rounds of 66, 71, 69 for a 10-under par total of 206, one shot better than Lee Houtteman and Scott Hebert. But Cook wasn’t eligible to win the title due to a Michigan PGA rule that stipulates 60 days of employment in the Michigan Section prior to the championship. The rule was enacted to prevent pros outside the state “cherry picking” the Michigan PGA tournament. Ben Cook Hopes to Raise the PGA Trophy This Time By Terry Moore Michigan Golf Journal ichigan PGA Championship