Baker Focuses On NCAA Regional

AMES, Iowa--Iowa State senior golfer Chris Baker can finally relax after accomplishing two major goals last week. He first graduated with honors on Saturday with a degree in marketing. A total student-athlete, Baker is a three-time all-Big 12 academic pick and is in position to earn national honors academically. He also learned that his collegiate career with the Cyclones isn't over yet after earning an individual berth to the 2008 NCAA Central Regional in Columbus, Ohio, May 15-17.

The tournament will be conducted at the Scarlet Course on the Ohio State University campus. The famed course, which opened in 1938, was designed by world-renowned architect Perry Maxwell, who also designed ISU's campus course Veenker Memorial at around the same time period. A long, challenging layout, the Scarlet Course has hosted numerous national amateur championships in its 70-year existence. It was redesigned by OSU alum and golfing legend Jack Nicklaus in early 2000 and the par-71, 7,419-yard layout will most definitely test all 141 golfers in the field this week.

“I have never played it (the Scarlet Course) before, but I have heard so many great things about it,” Baker said. “I know it is really long and the par 3s are extremely tough. I am excited to get there for some practice rounds and get a feel for it.”

Baker, who is ranked 59th nationally in the latest Golfweek rankings, is wrapping up one of the greatest seasons in school history. An unanimous first-team all-Big 12 selection, Baker is on pace to break ISU's single-season stroke average mark. He currently owns a 71.46 stroke average, a full shot better than the current record-holder Jason Knutzon, who averaged 72.71 strokes per round in the 1996-97 season.

Baker, who has nine top-10 finishes in 13 events this season for the Cyclones, is hoping to prolong his amateur career for at least a couple more weeks.

“I will turn professional as soon as I am done with the postseason,” Baker said. “I have the U.S. Open qualifier in early June and I will start practicing full-time and start signing up for local professional tournaments around the Midwest to see what I can do.”

A total of 27 teams and six individuals will compete at the NCAA Central Regional. In order to advance to the NCAA Championships, May 28-31 in West Lafayette, Ind., Baker will have to finish in the top-two among the six individuals participating and among other individuals who are not part of the top 10 teams which advance in team play.

He is the third Cyclone to earn an individual selection to postseason regional competition (1990-Jim Webb; 2004-Jeremy Lyons).

Click here to follow Baker's rounds throughout the tournament.

NCAA Central Regional Teams:
Alabama, Oklahoma State, Georgia Tech, Florida, Tennessee, Lamar, Wake Forest, Indiana, Texas A&M, Louisville, Wichita State, Kent State, Penn State, Arkansas, Michigan, TCU, Texas-Arlington, Illinois, Ohio State, Baylor, Colorado, Eastern Kentucky, Marquette, Eastern Michigan, Cleveland State, Loyola (Maryland), Sacred Heart

NCAA Central Regional Individuals:
Chris Baker (Iowa State), Clayton Rask (Minnesota), Josh Sandman (Notre Dame), Victor Almstrom (Minnesota), Brent Long (Western Kentucky), Jordan Weber (Northern Iowa)

Players Mentioned

Chris Baker

Chris Baker

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