By Greg Johnson
FLINT – Caledonia’s Ben Cook, whose wife/caddie of five days, Miah, said prefers to be called Benny, made a 12-foot eagle-putt on the par 5 No. 18 hole to set a tournament scoring record and win by a record scoring–margin in the 99th Michigan PGA Professional Championship at Flint Golf Club.
The Yankee Springs Golf Course professional got married a few days prior and then honeymoon-blitzed the field in the state championship for Michigan Section PGA professionals. Less than two weeks prior, Cook, and Boyne Resort professional (and defending Michigan PGA champ) Jeff Roth were both playing in the PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco.
“I was playing solid, so I was seeing how many birdies I could make, and once I got to 18-under I was trying to get to 20,” Cook said. “I didn’t know it was a record, but when that last putt went in, I was really happy.”
John Seltzer of Grand Rapids (2017 champion) shot a sizzling final-round 63 for 12-under 204 and took second place.
The previous scoring record of 18-under was accomplished twice: In 2001 by winner Jeff Roth at Shanty Creek Resort, and in 2014 by winner Scott Hebert at Oakland University’s two courses.
“I don’t think anybody was going to beat Ben this week, 20-under that’s just unbelievable,” Seltzer said after his 63 that was also two shots short of the Flint GC course record 61 set years ago by legend Sam Snead.
