Only two players survived Wolf Run Golf Course in Zionsville to post subpar scores at the midway point of the Indiana Golf Association’s 108^th Indiana Amateur Championship. Chris Baker of Brownstown shot a 3-under-par 68 in the second round after an even-par 71 the first day. His 139 places him over Andrew Rhodes of Sweetser who shot 69-71=140.

Both players are in pursuit of their first Indiana Amateur title. Both fought hard for the win in 2007 at Otter Creek Golf Course in Columbus where Rhodes finished in a close second place and Baker in third. The closest competitor with the best chance to overtake this year is Joe Mahurin of Noblesville who is in third at 145.

Baker started off the morning strong on the front nine and birdied three holes to turn at 32. On the 615-yard, par 5 third hole, he made a 20-foot putt to go one under. He continued to hit fairways and every green on the first nine, including hole 4 where he one-putted from eight feet. At hole 6, a 175-yard par 3, he hit a 9-iron to eight feet and made the putt.

The back nine posed more of a challenge. “It was the story of two nines with the wind out there,” said Baker. “I hit every green on the front nine, but the wind was dead in our faces on some of the holes on the back.” He took a bogey at the 11^th hole after driving the ball into a bunker. “I left myself a tough shot and missed the putt for par,” he said. His ball found another bunker on the 14^th hole with the wind blowing directly into his face. He pulled a 5-iron left into the back left sand and made another bogey.

The bogeys ended there, and he placed his tee shot on the par-3, 16^th hole to within two feet of the cup and tapped it in for birdie. Only 25 yards out after two shots at the par-5 hole 17, he chipped to three feet and made the putt. “There is not much room for error out there, and my game is to hit it straight and keep it in play,” said Baker. That game is what gave him the advantage over the field today.