Bogey-free Baker eyeing a maiden Seniors success
Peter Baker will look to win his first Staysure Tour title as he heads into today’s final round of the Shipco Masters promoted by Simon’s Golf Club with a two-shot lead.
The Englishman, who won three times on the European Tour, carded a perfect blemish-free five-under-par round of 67 yesterday to move into top spot.
Baker has not dropped a shot over the opening 36 holes and kept his cool in the baking sunshine to leave himself in pole position for his debut win on the over-50s circuit.
His round got off to the perfect start with a birdie on the first followed by 10 consecutive pars to remain at the top of the leaderboard after an early start on Moving Day.
A “really good birdie at No. 12 on the par five” set Baker on course for a strong finish with back-to-back birdies at 12 and 13, where the highlight of his round came with a monster 30-foot birdie putt on the 12th hole.
The 1993 Ryder Cup player took advantage of the par-five 17th with another birdie to take him to 10-under-par overall and lead at Simon’s Golf Club.
After teeing off first on the second day in Kvistgård, Baker was delighted to card such a low score and set the bar for the chasing pack, especially without dropping a shot over the two days.
“I’m delighted with it. I was first off this morning which was actually a good time because it was a touch cooler,” he said.
“It was good to get going and I got off to a great start and I kept it going by giving myself lots of chances. I made some of them and didn’t really get into too much trouble.
“It was nice to get around without too much heat for the first five or six holes. It was a cracking day and it was great to play golf.
“I think I’ll have a reasonable chance tomorrow and be up there with the leaders. I’ll need to play really well like you always need to do when you want to win and hope it is your day.
“It’s certainly a very rare thing for me not to drop a shot – long may it continue. We’ll see what happens, but I’m sure I’ll get rid of that record tomorrow, but I’ll just do my best out there.”
Baker’s early score was hotly pursued by fellow-1993 Ryder Cup team-mate Barry Lane, but the Englishman was not able to join him at the top even with a birdie-birdie finish as he sits in second place on eightunder-par after a three-under-par round of 69.
Fellow-Englishman Paul Eales lies third behind Baker after he made five birdies on his back nine. Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie is a shot further back on sixunder following a five-under-par 67.