There are lots of reasons for a flooded engine, the first being lawn mower syndrome - did you start the car for a few minutes the night before and shut it off? That pours gasoline into the cylinders and could wash the oil from the rings causing low compression.

A bad fuel pressure regulator will cause hard starts when cold as gasoline will force itself into the intake manifold via the FPR vacuum line, leaving a lot of gasoline in the manifold. You need to check the vacuum line connecting the FPR to the vacuum tree.

You probably over maintain the plugs, cap and rotor. My plug wires are original in my 1996 with 160K miles, as is the coil.

If you open the throttle part way during start, you will get more gas and air, negating the idle air control. Flooring the gas pedal will turn off the injectors during starter operation allowing control over wet spark plugs/flooded condition.