Text: Greg Johnson

Ben Cook, Grand Rapids, Michigan native and Ferris State University men’s golf alum, will make his debut with the PGA Tour stars and others this Thursday as he competes in the PGA Championship at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York set for May 16 through May 19, 2019. 

“It’s been a crazy journey, but I’m going to play in a PGA Tour event and a major championship at that, and it is going to be amazing,” Cook said. 

Cook, who has been playing the mini-tour circuit as well as working and teaching at golf courses in Michigan on his two-year journey to make it as a tour golfer, made the PGA Championship field by securing a fourth-place finish in the recent PGA Professional Championship that brings together top PGA of America club pros in the country. The PGA Championship is conducted by the PGA of America and reserves 20 spots from the club pro-national championship in the PGA Championship each year. 

Cook shot an opening 69 to spark a two-under total for the week at the recent PGA Professional Championship, which was played on the Wanamaker and Ryder Courses at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Prior to the tournament, Cook began teaching at Yankee Springs Golf Course in Wayland and during his senior collegiate year helped Ferris State University reach the 2017 NCAA Division II national quarterfinals. Cook also earned an All-American recognition twice in his career and has since played on the PGA Tour Latino America circuit and qualified for the last two PGA Professional Championships by topping the scoreboard in the Northern Ohio and Michigan PGA section championships.