The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/644580
MARCH 2016 ■ 69 career-best tie for fifth at the NCAA New Haven Regional with a three-round score of 207. Cooke, a Purdue transfer three years ago from Bolingbrook, Ill., followed up a strong junior season, in which he won both NC State-hosted tournaments and posted the team's lowest stroke average, by win- ning the Illinois Open and earning a spot in the U.S. Amateur, along with freshman Franken. While he was disappointed with last year's finish, he also found reason to be optimistic for this year's prospects. "It was kind of a hard pill to swallow because we were so close," Cooke said. "What I tried to take away from it was real- izing how good we could be. The regional was our best tournament of the season. It prepared us for this year. "It was a great learning experience that we can draw on this spring." With a nice mix of experience, talent and youthful enthusiasm, it's easy to un- derstand why Sykes is looking forward to his 45th season as the head coach of the Wolfpack. "We're definitely looking forward to a good season," Sykes said. "The guys are working hard. They love wearing the red and white. "I think we will acquit ourselves very well." ■ Gardner Marsh Gas Equipment Company, Inc. 8209 Brownleigh Drive 2119 Jody Road Raleigh, NC 27617 Florence, SC 29501 Ph: 919 787 8214 Ph: 843 669 3136 Ph: 800 334 9245 Ph: 800 868 8988 Fax: 800 400 2596 Fax: 843 661 5236 Web: www.gardnermarsh.com Cardinal International Trucks 1526 South Blount Street, Raleigh, NC 27603 (919) 832-5871 www.cardinalinternationaltrucks.com Top Golfers Senior David Cooke He led the Wolfpack in stroke average last season at 72.2 in his first year as a full-time starter. He played in all 12 tournaments and all 34 rounds as a junior after playing in eight tournaments and 21 rounds in his first season with the Pack following his transfer from Purdue. He won both the Wolfpack Intercollegiate and the Wolfpack Spring Open at the Lonnie Poole Golf Course. He posted the best round of any NC State golfer with a 65 in the sec- ond round of the Spring Open. Following his strong junior season, the amateur player beat a full field of professionals and amateurs to win the Illinois Open in July and advanced to the match-play round of the U.S. Amateur. Senior Carter Page He finished tied for fifth at the NCAA New Ha- ven (Conn.) Regional with a total of 207, the best 54-hole total and the highest finish of his career, to earn all-region honors. The Waynesville, N.C., native has four top-10 finishes in his career. Freshman Stephen Franken The newcomer from Raleigh's Millbrook High School competed in the U.S. Amateur in July and scorched the competition once he entered the starting lineup in the fall, averaging a team-low 71.5 per round. He finished fourth in the Quail Valley Collegiate Invitational in Vero Beach, Fla., and tied for 15th with Cooke at the Ka'anapali Collegiate Classic in Maui, Hawaii.