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The 26-year-old had a final-round three-under
par 67 in windy conditions to finish on 21-under 261 at Sea
Island, Georgia. J.J. Spaun shot a 66 to seal the runner-up spot
at 17-under 265 with Brian Gay (68) another stroke back.
"Fourth tournament with my Tour card, that's pretty impressive
if you ask me," Cook told PGA Tour Radio after his win, which
earned him exemptions into the Masters, PGA Championship and
Players Championship next year
Cook, who took a three-stroke lead in the final round, dropped a
stroke at the second hole but did not let the pressure get to
him and remained sold for the rest of the round, picking up
shots at seven and 15 before a pleasing birdie-birdie finish.
"Staying the moment," he said was a big key to winning.
"I was able to do that really well until about 17 after that
putt."
Starting the day with a lead helped, he added.
"If they gain a couple on me early, it doesn't matter because
there is still a lot of golf to play," Cook said.
Spaun had applied the pressure early, going four under for his
opening 10 holes, but ran into trouble coming home with bogeys
at the 11th and 17th holes.
Cook, on the other hand, finished strong, delivering birdies on
three of his final four holes.
The former University of Arkansas golfer gained his first
experience on the PGA Tour in 2015 when he played in seven
events.
Three of the tournaments he qualified for on Mondays, and
finished inside the top 25 five times, including a tie for sixth
at the Barbasol Championship.
He earned his PGA Tour card on the Web.com Tour and began
playing in Tour events in October.
(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina; Editing by
Peter Rutherford)
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