Baker warms to task in desert sun
28/11/2016
Arizona Winning Professional – Peter Baker with cheque
Former Ryder Cup player Peter Baker sparkled in the sunshine as he added the Arizona Classic Pro-Am title to his collection of Pro-Am Tour victories.
The South Staffs pro, who also won the California Classic Pro-Am last November, fired rounds of 67, 71 and 69 to chalk up a four stroke victory over Wentworth’s Jason Kelly.
It was the 21st staging of the popular event and Baker beat a strong field of former European Tour players and top regional PGA Professionals over four of America’s finest desert courses - Desert Highlands, Blackstone Country Club, Grayhawk Raptor Course and We-Ko-Pa Saguaro Course.
Isolated thunderstorms interrupted the opening round forcing play to be abandoned after players were called back to the clubhouse twice.
However the majority of the field were able to enjoy the full Desert Highlands experience on the course where Jack Nicklaus is said to have invented desert target style-golf.
With PGA tournament controller George Wale advising competitors that the Pro-Am would be reduced to 54 holes, Bearwood Lakes pro Martin Woodbridge set the pace in the rescheduled opening round at Blackstone, shooting a superb 65 for a two shot lead over Baker.
But former PGA Tour venue, Grayhawk Golf Club Raptor Course saw tricky scoring conditions and Baker used all his experience to grind out a one under par 71 to open up a three-shot lead over PGA EuroPro Tour player Kelly, with Surrey Down's Craig Cowper a further shot back.
The breathtakingly scenic We-Ko-Pa Golf Club on the local Indian Reservation staged the final round on the Saguaro Course, and a steady two under par 69 was good enough for Baker to claim victory and follow in the footsteps of his friend and former Ryder Cupper Paul Broadhurst who won the previous year.
In addition to the Pro-Am, Challenge Days were played at Troon North - won by Kelly with Phil Beever, Andy Raitt and James Ablett tied for second, as well as TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course - host course for the PGA Tour’s WM Phoenix Open.
With the massive grandstands being constructed around the course the competitors got the full PGA Tour experience, and Jamie Harris played inspired golf to win with an impressive 42 points. Benn Barham was second with 41 points, and Bearwood Lakes duo Dan Ball and Woodbridge tied for third.
Arizona Winning Team (left – right) Gary Cheater, Dave Roberts, Richard Beach & Andy Raitt
In the team event Raitt's team of Richard Beach, Dave Roberts and Gary Cheater claimed victory. Cowper's team were second and Ball's team were third.
The popular Pro-Am Tour, by The American Golf Holiday, includes The California Classic Pro-Am, The Scottsdale Classic Pro-Am, The Las Vegas Classic Pro-Am, The Pinehurst Classic Pro-Am, The Sawgrass 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
