WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — Firing a 3-under final round 67, WVU golfer Alan Cooke won the 97th West Virginia Amateur on Thursday, earning a spot in the PGA’s Greenbrier Classic next month.
“I’m extremely proud of Alan and excited for him because I know that, being a native West Virginian, he’s always dreamed of winning this tournament,” said Mountaineers golf coach Sean Covich. “I told him earlier this spring he was going to have a big summer, so it’s great to see him get this win.”
Atop the leaderboard at 2-over entering the final round, Cooke birdied five holes and was the only player to finish the tournament under par. He coasted to the title by eight strokes over Philip Reale of South Charleston.
A native of Vienna, W.Va, and a graduate of Parkersburg High, Cooke rebounded from Wednesday’s 76 when winds played havoc.
“It was a really cool experience to win a tournament I grew up following,” Cooke said. “I’m excited to represent both the Mountaineers and the state of West Virginia at The Greenbrier next month.”
Cooke will return for the 2016 Greenbrier Classic on July 7-10.