Cook’s Scorching 63 Good Enough To Win Ernst Championship

John Cook shot an 8-under-par 63 Tuesday for a two-day total of 134 and a one-shot victory in the second annual Ernst Championship at the Overlake Golf and Country Club.

Cook withstood a course-record round by local Jeff Gove, who shot a 10-under 61 for a two-day total of 135. The old course record was 65, a mark shared by tournament host Fred Couples.

Gove, who plays out of Inglewood Country Club in Kenmore, plays on the Nike Tour and won his way into the tournament by virtue of his victory in June’s Washington Open.

Scott Simpson finished third at 6-under followed by Brad Faxon at 5-under. Couples, a former Seattle resident, finished in a three-way tie for fifth with Craig Stadler and first-round leader Davis Love III.

Love was 7-under after 14 holes but had a triple-bogey on No. 15 after hitting his first shot in the water.

Cook, 38, from Rancho Mirage, Calif., won $150,000 for the first-place finish. Gove earned $75,000.

PGA champion Steve Elkington shot a 67 for a two-day total of 139.