Title win’s just so par-fect for champ Baker
JESS Baker produced an impressive display to claim the biggest title of her career and win the 119th Women’s Amateur Championship at Hunstanton.
The 19-year-old from Newcastle shone in the sun over the Norfolk links to achieve a 4&3 success against Sweden’s Louise Rydqvist in the 36-hole final.
The teenager, a member of Newcastle’s Gosforth Park Golf Club who attends the University of Central Florida in Orlando, became the fifth English winner of the coveted championship in the last 13 years.
She celebrated afterwards with her dad Steve, who caddied for her, and her mum Louise.
Having had to hole a 25-foot putt just to reach the matchplay stages, her triumph was even more noteworthy.
By virtue of her victory, Baker earns dream places in the AIG Women’s Open, the US Women’s Open and, by tradition, an invitation to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship.
Ranked 518th on the World Amateur Golf Ranking, she also joins an impressive list of past amateur winners including LPGA victor Leona Maguire and major winners Georgia Hall, Catriona Matthew and Anna Nordqvist – last year’s AIG Women’s Open champion at Carnoustie.
Coached by Andy Paisley at Hexham Golf Club – the brother of Tour player Chris – Baker won the closing four holes to lead three up at lunch after mistakes from Rydqvist.
It was a tight contest in the afternoon but after the lead was extended to five up through 28 holes Rydqvist was unable to make a stirring comeback as Baker eclipsed her run to the quarterfinals last year.
It was a nervy start to the contest from both players in the blustery conditions and it was all square after ten holes before Rydqvist’s birdie at the 13th took her ahead.
The Swede, though, struggled from the 15th and lost four holes on the bounce.
From three down at halfway, the University of South Carolina player reduced her arrears with a birdie at the 20th.
A bogey from Rydqvist at the tricky 24th, played to an elevated green, saw her deficit return to three once more.
Baker went five ahead after more dropped shots from Rydqvist at the 26th and 28th – her fourth of the afternoon.
Rydqvist won the 29th and 30th after dropped shots from Baker and suddenly she was within three holes.
Baker won the 31st to go four ahead but a 22-foot birdie at the par-three 14th saw the Swede reply once more.
The Newcastle native, though, held her nerve, rolling in a winning five-foot putt for a birdie.
In a further honour, Hunstanton handed Baker honorary membership at the prize presentation.
Baker said after clinching victory: “It is an amazing feeling, just incredible. I cannot believe it.
“I worked really, really hard to get here and it is just such a satisfying feeling.
“The first day of the final, in particular, was a dream day.
“I holed everything and just hit the ball amazingly well.
“So, yeah, it has been a long time coming and I am just really proud of myself.”
On her major exemptions, Baker added: “Playing in next month’s AIG Women’s Open is something I have really wanted to do for a long time.
“This means I don’t have to prequalify, which is great because that was the original plan.
“Augusta, oh, my gosh. That has not really come to my mind yet to be honest.
“It will be an incredible experience, they are all just great opportunities for me.”