Austin Peay State University Governors Golf’s Chris Baker shoots 61 to break APSU 18-hole record

APSU Sports Information

Glencoe, AL – Fashioning an astonishing round of 12 birdies and only one bogey, Chris Baker fired a second-round 61, shattering Austin Peay State University’s 18-hole record, to sit in first place entering the final round of the 23rd Annual Grub Mart Intercollegiate, being played at the Silver Lakes Golf Course.

Baker, who shot an opening-round 72, is at 11-under 133 overall and two shots clear of Western Kentucky’s Brandon Beckham. Baker’s fellow junior teammate Austin Kramer is in third place at 7-under 137 after shooting impressive rounds of 70-67.

But Baker and Kramer’s work wasn’t enough to propel the Govs into first. In fact, the Govs are in third place at 3-under 573 (291-282). Host Jacksonville State is in first at 562, followed by WKU at 569 in the nine-team event.

Baker, however, was the talk of the tournament, Monday. In the second round, he had six birdies on each side, with his only bogey coming at Par 4 No. 9.  The Franklin Tennessee native birdied three of four Par 5s, 7 of 10 Par 4s and two of four Par 3s.

His 61 shattered the Govs’ previous single-round of 64, initially set by Yoshio Yamamoto in the Xavier Invitational, October 10th, 2005, and then tied by Erik Barnes at the same invitational, October 10th, 2008. Most recently Dustin Korte tied that single-round mark at the NCAA Tempe Regional, April 16th, 2013. The laid-back Baker and Korte were teammates that season.

Baker’s 61 also set the Silver Lakes Mindbreaker/Heartbreaker course record.

“Baker’s second round was awesome but honestly I don’t think any of us were too surprised,” APSU coach Robbie Wilson. “He has been on the verge of really putting something together like this for a while. He just got on a roll.”

Baker missed the season’s first tournament at Myrtle Beach in February while recovering from mononucleosis. He played in the Govs’ second event in mid-March. Hard to believe he still is not considered 100 percent recovered from his illness.

Not lost for Wilson was Kramer’s two under-par rounds. After a solid 2-under 70, he was that much better in the second round, shooting a career-best 67.

“I think Kramer’s 70-67 was solid, too,” Wilson said. “It was important for Austin to finish off a good round and he did so today.”

Freshman Justin Arens had his best round of the spring with a 74 in the morning and the other counter was senior Tucker Wallace‘s 75. In the afternoon round, It was Wallace’s 76 and junior Tyler Phillips‘ 78. Playing as individual, sophomore Erik Hedberg shot rounds of 74-73. His 147 has him tied for 16th.

“I believe we made some real progress today,” Wilson said, “but our inability to put to put together four scores is what is keeping us out of the lead. To move up tomorrow, we need all five guys to play.”

The two-day, 54-hole tourney will conclude Tuesday on the 6,886-yard Mindbreaker (3419 yards)/Heartbreaker (3467 yards) courses.