SYRACUSE – Brent Baker and Andy Wolf are both Wawasee High School graduates. After Tuesday afternoon, the two have something else in common – they share the course record at Maxwelton Golf Club in Syracuse. In sweltering, muggy conditions, Baker played a blistering round of 10-under 62 that included nine birdies, an eagle on No. 18 and a bogey on No. 8. Baker, a 1992 Wawasee grad, said his previous best score was a 67 six years ago. Wolf, a 2006 Wawasee grad, carded his 62 in 2008. “I didn’t know exactly what my score was, I wasn’t keeping track in my head,” said Baker, who’s friend Jay Garr was tallying shots. “I thought if I parred the last hole I’d be around 66. I birdied it and thought, ‘OK, I just shot 65.’” In reality, he had equalled the best round in the course’s almost 85 years of existence. And when it was over, as Baker said, Garr “tackled me on the green and told me my score.” “The course has been here since 1930, and it’s only the second time someone has shot 62,” said course owner Bob Carlson. “It’s a very good score.” Baker said when he started his round he wasn’t sure if he was going to play 18 holes that day. And then he and Garr got behind a slow-playing group. After playing hole No. 1, Baker and Garr played Nos. 15, 16, 17 and 18, before returning to No. 2 and playing the rest of the course in order. Baker, who said a key to his record-tying round was switching to a reverse grip on his pitch and chip shots, fired a 32 on the front and 30 on the back. “The course is in awesome shape,” Baker said of Maxwelton. “The greens are as good as they’ve been. They water it as good as any country club around here. The course is in great shape.” Apparently so is Baker’s golf game.
