Cook signs letter
By Steve Behr
 
Linzy Cook probably never dreamed that one setback during her freshman year of high school would help her get a college scholarship.

Cook made it official Thursday by signing a letter of intent to play golf at Montreat College, a private school in the Appalachian Athletic Conference. Cook, a state qualifier for three straight years, signed her letter in the Watauga High library.

If Cook had her way four years ago, she would have been on the Watauga volleyball team. However, she was cut from the team and looking for another sport to take up.

She started golfing with her father, discovered that she not only enjoyed it, but was good at it, and joined the Watauga girls’ golf team her freshman season.

“That was the best thing that could have happened to our program,” Watauga girls’ golf coach Jerry Moretz said. “We’ve had two kids who were cut from volleyball who have turned into pretty good golfers.”

Cook found an alternative sport that she liked and followed it.

“I just up and decided one day — I just told my dad that I wanted to play golf,” Cook said. “That’s when I got started my freshman year. It’s when I first basically picked up a club.”

Cook’s ability eventually allowed her to play in Watauga’s final three matches her freshman year. One season later, she began a string of seasons that got her named All-Northwestern Conference, and into the regional and state tournament all three years.

She was third in the NWC her senior year, which included firing a career-best 9-hole round of 38 at Mimosa Golf Club in Morganton.

“It actually came easy,” Cook said. “It was pretty natural, which is always exciting. I was playing volleyball and went out for the team, but I didn't make it and that’s when I told him that I wanted to go out for golf.”

“She got good pretty quick,” Moretz added. “Her freshman year, she made it to three matches and never missed another one.”

Cook said there was plenty to like about Montreat, located just a few miles northeast of Black Mountain and about 30 minutes northeast of Asheville. She not only liked the campus, but also the academics that are offered.

Cook would like to study athletic training and possibly be part of a staff of the LPGA.

“It’s a Christian school and that’s definitely what I was looking for,” Cook said. “Coach (David) Pennell has a supported me all though my high school years, ever since I was a freshman until senior.”

There won’t be as much time to pursue her other interests, which include singing, fishing and watching and even acting in musicals, as she did when she was in the Watauga High production of “All Shook Up,” based on the music of Elvis Presley. Cook received her summer workout plan from Pennell minutes after she signed her letter of intent, which requires her to work on her game much more than in high school.

Golf is also a fall and spring sport in college, though the conference and national tournaments are in the spring.

“Practice, practice, practice,” Cook said. “Go out and hit balls every day, putt every day, get the middle game going. Just practice as much as I can.”

Cook is the second golfer in the last three years who has moved on to play in college. Eileen Purpur plays at Catawba College, a Division II school in the South Atlantic Conference.