Amateur Career
The son of PGA Tour official Jim Cook, John Cook was born in Toledo, Ohio, but grew up in southern California. He attended Miraleste High School in Rancho Palos Verdes, graduating in 1976. In addition to golf, Cook was a promising, but undersized quarterback in football through his sophomore year. He was advised by his high school golf coach (who also coached football) to concentrate on golf, which would give him his best opportunity for a collegiate scholarship. (The coach, Wilbur Lucas, later said it was the only time he suggested an athlete drop a sport.) Cook was also coached by former PGA Tour star Ken Venturi.
Cook was offered a scholarship to the Ohio State University, and was personally advised to accept by Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf. He was a member of the Buckeyes' 1979 NCAA Championship team, which also included Joey Sindelar. He won the U.S. Amateur in 1978 at age 20, and nearly won it again in 1979, losing to Mark O'Meara in the finals. He also won the Sunnehanna Amateur in 1977 and 1979 and the California State Amateur in 1975. Following the 1979 U.S. Amateur, Cook turned professional.
Read more about this topic: John Cook (golfer)
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