John Cooper boys’ golf captures conference championship

THE WOODLANDS, Texas - The John Cooper School boys’ varsity golf team made school history as they captured their first-ever championship in the Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC), just one stroke better than three-time defending champion, The Kinkaid School. Senior Suraj Swarup was All-SPC runner up for individual honors and freshman teammate Ben Wong was also named All-SPC as a fifth place medalist.

“The championship came down to the last putt, with senior Suraj Swarup making a three-foot putt to secure the victory,” said Mike Cooper, athletic director for The John Cooper School. Cooper has finished second to Kinkaid for the last two years.

The Cooper team had a two-stroke lead over Kinkaid after the first day of play with a total of 300. They followed it with a 297 on the second day for a two-day total of 597.

“It was a very exciting finish to a very exciting tournament. The conference has become so competitive with so many fantastic players,” said Rod Gold, head golf coach for The John Cooper School. “It came down to that must-make putt by Suraj Swarup that sealed the championship for Cooper. It is so much fun when it comes down to a senior having to make a putt on the final hole with everyone watching. As usual, Suraj lined it up, and poured it right in the middle of the cup.”

“Our team showed incredible composure under pressure both days. We fought hard and I’m proud of the way all our guys played,” said Suraj Swarup. “It’s been an honor playing for this team."

“We proved that golf is a team sport. We combined a lot of experience with senior Suraj Swarup, juniors Ben Robinson and Tom Cochrane, along with sophomore Jay Swarup, and freshman Ben Wong,” said Gold. ‘I felt a lot of mixed emotions–total joy for our guys, as well as empathy for Kinkaid for losing in such a close manner.”