BAKER COOKS UP A 69 TO LEAD ENGLISH SENIORS
The opening day of the English Men’s Seniors Championship
in sunny Devon was developing into a Copthorne takeover but
debutant Stephen Baker had other ideas.
Baker, the 55 year old manager at Little Aston Golf Club,
carded a two-under-par 69 at Tavistock, the only sub-par return
of the day, to lead by two strokes from a trio of players
including seniors international Doug Arnold.
Baker, who lives in Crewe, made a sensational start with
an eagle-two at the 348 yard first hole. But he gave it back
with a double bogey six at the second. However, he was out
in 33 with birdies at the sixth and eighth but only picked
up one shot in a back nine of 36.
 Arnold
(pictured left - photo courtesy of Tom Ward), twice a former
champion from Copthorne in Sussex, went round Yelverton in
level par 71, as did Terence Brown, while Kerry Scott matched
them at Tavistock. Arnold, the champion in 2002 and 2003,pictured,
reached the turn in three under par with an eagle and a birdie,
but came home in 38, blaming a couple of poor shots.
“I’m a bit disappointed after getting to three
under,” said Arnold. “But I would have settled
for 71 before teeing off. I’ve been playing very solid
but not getting the scores. I hit two bad shots on the back
nine and I couldn’t hole a putt. I’ve just got
to get the putter working.”
Scott, his Copthorne club-mate and the current Sussex County
captain, pipped Arnold for the Sussex Seniors title recently
and maintained his form with 71, while Brown had two birdies
in his level par return.
Local hope, Bob Knott, who finished runner-up at Prestbury
a year ago, was in action at Yelverton and is among a group
on 72, while three former champions had mixed fortunes.
Gordon Edwards, the winner 18 years ago as well as in 1993
and ‘96, went round in 73, 1997 champion David Lane
had 74, and Jon Marks, the 1998 winner, shot 75, all at Tavistock.
Stewart King, secretary/manager at West Lancashire Golf Club,
would have done better than 73 but he took a triple-bogey
eight on the 15th at Tavistock.
Another on 73 at Tavistock is Harry Ashby from Durham, the
English champion in 1972 and 1973.
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