High School Girls Golf
Baker qualifies for IHSA Sectional Golf Tournament

 

[October 06, 2024] 

Lincoln Community High School golfer Emma Baker is no stranger to the sectional golf tournament. Baker, a senior, qualified for today’s Sectional tournament for the third year in a row.

Baker finished in fifth place last Wednesday with a 97 at the Class 2A Regional tournament held at the Lincoln Elks Golf Course.

Baker will tee off today at 10:12 a.m. in the Class 2A Sectional tournament at the Weibring Golf Club at Illinois State University in Normal.

“I need to focus on the good shots and not the bad ones,” said Baker on Sunday. Everyone is going to have a bad shot here and there but it is how you recover from the bad shot that matters. I need to focus on staying positive.”

Baker was influenced at an early age by her father to play the game of golf.

“My dad was the one who got me into golf,” Baker said. “He bought me my first set of golf clubs when I was six years old. That’s where my love for the game started because it was something me and my dad could go out and do together. I continued playing for fun until I got to high school, where I started playing competitively. I still have passion for the game because of the people I have met through the game of golf and the people that have helped me along the way. Jan Bowers was a big help throughout these last four years as was my coach, John Andrews, and of course, my dad.

LCHS golf coach John Andrews is in his third year coaching the Railers girls team so he’s been there for each of Baker’s runs in the postseason. He believes that Baker will have to shoot in the low to mid 80s to advance to State.

“There are a lot of good golfers out there,” said Andrews. “Emma will have to have a good day.”

Andrews said he tells all his players, “You’ve chosen the hardest sport to be average at. Emma gets out there and practices and plays. She can play the game with anybody. She can hit the ball long. She’s got a good iron game. Maybe her putting game has let her down a little bit. Most of the girls have trouble putting. But she’s qualified every year so that’s a good thing. Emma is a joy to be around and she’s got a great attitude.”

“Hopefully the programs they’ve started now in grade school will feed into the high school,” Andrews added.

Baker does not have plans to continue golf after high school, but she does plan to go to SIUE to study nursing.

Meanwhile, as an employee of Top Hat Creamery in Lincoln, Baker was recently in a funny TikTok with her boss, Lisa Mestinsek, and Austin Garriott. In case you’ve seen the TikTok and may be wondering…Baker made the direct hit in one take. She just might have a new career after golf. Emma Baker, TikTok influencer, check her out!

Fans can follow Emma’s golf game on the IHSA App.

Congratulations and best of luck, Emma!

[Teena Lowery]