Baker is hot stuff in desert

** L-R, Peter Baker, Clare Partridge, Brian Partridge & Roy Williams.

Peter Baker fired two 69s on his way to victory in the California Classic Pro-Am at the Palm Springs Desert Resorts.

The ex-Ryder Cup player from the South Staffs Golf Club beat Nevill GC’s Jamie Harris by five strokes in the latest Pro-Am Tour event which at 22 years is the longest running on its schedule.

Baker carded rounds of 69, 67, 67 and 70 for a 15-under-par total of 273 across the PGA West TPC Nicklaus Tournament Course, SilverRock, The Classic Club and the Celebrity Course at Indian Wells Golf Resort.

Harris was the first round leader with a superb 66 at PGA West, however Baker made his move in the second round with a 67 matched by the South Region’s Craig Cowper.

A further 67 at the Classic Club extended Baker’s lead while a steady final round 70 at Indian Wells ensured it was a good couple of weeks for former Ryder Cup stars with Baker’s friend and former Ryder Cupper Paul Broadhurst winning the previous week on The Pro-Am Tour in Arizona.

Harris finished second after shooting a best of the day 65 while the Midland Region’s Darren Prosser continued his return to form after injury finishing third.

In the team event a final round charge from the defending champions led by Prince’s Rob McGuirk set up an exciting climax, especially with the runaway 54 hole team leaders led by Baker struggling after nine holes.

However, a superb 13-under-par back nine fired Baker and his team of Brian Partridge, Clare Partridge and Roy Williams to a well-deserved victory. Harris’ team finished third.

In addition to the Pro-Am a Welcome Challenge Day was held at the Players Course at Indian Wells and was won by Jamie Harris with 40 points.  Darren Prosser was second with 37 points.

On the Wednesday a select number of competitors were able to experience the spectacular Stone Eagle Golf Club one of the desert’s most exclusive private clubs, and certainly one of the most scenic courses in south-west America.

The California Classic is just one of a series of high quality Pro-Am Tour events organised by The American Golf Holiday, others include The Arizona Classic Pro-Am, The Scottsdale Classic Pro-Am, The Las Vegas Classic Pro-Am, The Pinehurst Classic Pro-Am, The Sawgrass Classic Pro-Am, The Whistling Straits Classic Pro-Am and The Pro-Am Tour at Pebble Beach.

Further information is available at www.pro-amtour.com or contact John Hooper at Tel. 023 8046 5885