Chris Baker of Brownstown defended his title at the Indiana Golf Association Public Links Championship at Indiana University Golf Course in Bloomington Saturday. He shot 67-68=135 to hold off Brandon Pike of Bloomington who took second with a final round score of 5-under-par 66. Pike, a member of the Indiana University men’s golf team and 2006 Public Links champion, shot 70-66=136 for the tournament.

“It’s always great to get out there and play solid golf, and it’s always good to win” said Baker. That solid golf allowed him to hit eight of nine greens on the front, with the only miss at the first hole after hitting his drive right into tree roots. After hitting the greens in regulation, he made one-putts for four consecutive birdies at holes six through nine. “On the front nine I was having fun and putts were dropping. The back nine was a grind; nothing was falling,” said Baker.

After a great opening nine to turn with a 5-under-par 31, Baker went to the back nine and it was a different story. On the 12th hole he hit his approach shot just off the green to the back right. He duffed his chip and left his putt to save par short. Two more putts gave him a double and took him to seven under for the tournament. He was not able to make any more birdies but managed to par out for a 37 on the back.

The win did earn Baker an exemption into the 2009 IGA Indiana Amateur, however he may be turning professional this year which would make him ineligible and could make this his last win as an amateur. He just graduated from Iowa State University and plans to play mini-tours and Nationwide Tour qualifiers beginning next Monday, June 16th.

Justin Hueber of Fishers and Eric Steger of Noblesville both shot 140 to finish tied for third.

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