by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Attorney Glen Cohen is getting used to finishing second in the Gator Bowl Pro-Am golf tournament. For the third year in a row, Cohen and his team of one professional and two other amateurs was a runner-up in the two-day, two-course event.
That would probably bother Cohen except that he’s also won the thing a time or two.
“We’ve finished second three years in a row, but we won it four times in a row,” said Cohen, who made an eagle two on the par four 11th Friday.
This year Cohen teamed with professional Mark Carnevale and amateurs Jeff Blacker and Eddie Orlando to shoot 60-64 for a two-day total of 124. After being tied for the lead after Thursday’s round at the Amelia Island Long Point course, Cohen and team couldn’t get close to Benny Alvarez and his crew’s Friday 57 at Deerwood in the one best ball of the foursome event. Alvarez’ team posted a two-day score of 64-57, good enough for 121 and a three-shot victory.
Cohen finished tied for second with two others teams, including Mark McCumber’s group.
The fact that Cohen is even still playing the game is amazing.
“I’ve had four back surgeries, but I still have fun and I still love to play,” said Cohen, who was born in Atlanta but raised here.
After graduating from Wolfson High School, Cohen went to Georgetown University and the University of Florida’s law school, where he graduated in 1974. He didn’t start playing a lot of golf until he got out of law school.
“I played at public courses when I was a kid; I was poor,” said Cohen, a partner with Barnes, Barnes & Cohen. “I joined Baymeadows after law school.”
Today, Cohen is a member at Ponte Vedra and was once considered one of the best playing attorneys in Jacksonville.
“Maybe I used to be, but not anymore,” he said. “I don’t know who it is, but it’s just not me.”
Cohen does admit his game has gotten much better over the years. Much of that can be credited to some of his high-profile clients.
“I represent some of the best players in town,” said Cohen, rattling off such names as Rocco Mediate (who’s had back surgery himself), Leonard Thompson, Bill Kratzert and Carnevale. “It’s hard not to get good when you have some of the best instruction in the world.”
As good as he is on the golf course, Cohen’s just as tough in the courtroom, that is when he has to be. Often, Cohen is able to settle his cases out of court. But, when he does go to trial, it’s usually worth the effort.
“I just tried a case against ABC Liquors,” said Cohen. “I got my client two and a half million dollars. They offered $250,000 to settle. She had fallen and hurt her back. A jury gave her $2.5 million.”