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HomeSportsAPSU's Chris Baker named All-OVC Golf, Justin Arens named to All-Newcomer team

APSU’s Chris Baker named All-OVC Golf, Justin Arens named to All-Newcomer team

APSU Sports Information

Austin Peay State University Governors - APSUMuscle Shoals, AL – Junior Chris Baker, who shattered the Austin Peay State University single-round record with a 61 earlier this spring, has been named All-Ohio Valley Conference.

Meanwhile, freshman Justin Arens, who elevated his play down the stretch while playing in all spring events, has been named to the OVC All-Newcomer team.

Austin Peay Mens Golf's Justin Arens, left, was named to the OVC All-Newcomer team while Chris Baker was chosen All-OVC. (APSU Sports Information)
Austin Peay Mens Golf’s Justin Arens, left, was named to the OVC All-Newcomer team while Chris Baker was chosen All-OVC. (APSU Sports Information)

Those awards were announced Friday night at the OVC Awards banquet following the first-round of the league’s tournament championship.

Baker, the Franklin, TN native, entered the OVC tournament leading the Govs with a 73.50 strokes-per-round average while owning a 71.8 winning percentage in 10 events.  He has authored 11 rounds this season of par or better, including five rounds in the 60s—he shot 69, Friday, in the OVC tournament’s opening round.

That was highlighted by the 61, March 14th, in the second round of the Grub Mart Intercollegiate at the Silver Lakes Golf Club in Glencoe, AL.

The lefty saw his spring get off to a slow start when he was forced to miss the Wexford Plantation Intercollegiate because of mononucleosis. Since then his strength has gradually improved as has his game. In addition to his 61 at the Grub Mart, most recently he finished 3-under par in the Coca-Cola Wofford Invitational with a 3-under 213. Overall, he had three Top 10 finishes during the season and had 25 rounds count out of 27 played.

It is the 15th straight year APSU has seen a golfer earn All-OVC honors.

“I am really proud of Chris to see him honored,” APSU coach Robbie Wilson said. “It shows where he has come as a player. The coaches in the conference recognized he is one of the best in the conference and someone who other teams have to look out for and the other teams fear. He has the ability to go really low just like he did today.”

Arens, meanwhile, played in 8 of 10 tournaments this season, including all five spring events. The Columbus, Ohio, native owned a 74.8 scoring average over his final three regular-season tournaments entering the OVC championship, lowering his overall scoring average to 76.4. He has seen 17 rounds counted out of 23 played this season, including 9 of his last 12. He has shot six rounds of par or better, including a 2-under 70 in the final regular-season event, the Coca-Cola Wofford Invitational.

“Justin has come a long way in the last four or five months,” Wilson said. “Being named to the All-Newcomer team is part of his progression. It’s the next step but not the final step, but he certainly deserves this honor.”

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