“It’s about time” Prince Albert’s TJ Baker said about taking part in a competitive tournament.
The 18-year-old made his collegiate debut for the University of Arkansas at Monticello on Monday and Tuesday. Climbing as high as a tie for 22nd, Baker finished the 54-hole event in a tie for 34th at 19-over par. Baker shot rounds of 78, 75 and 82. He said his nerves got the best of him during the tournament.
“I didn’t really know what to expect, I didn’t have any goals for this tournament,” he said. “Obviously my nerves were super high, I was really nervous. In my first college tournament I wanted to do well but nerves got the best of me today and I did not play well. I was happy to get the monkey off my back and play.”
Yorkton’s Kade Johnson and Saskatoon product Roman Timmerman were also in the field of 60 at the ‘Battle for the Belt’ in Hot Springs, Arkansas for Southern Arkansas University. Johnson finished in a tie for seventh at 220, plus-4 and Timmerman was three strokes back at 9-over in a ninth-place tie. Baker said he had a chance to see the college veterans on the course.
“It eased my mind and it’s super cool too. Guys from Saskatchewan in Arkansas seeing each other on the course and putting green is pretty cool,” Baker said.
As a team the Muleriders placed second in the event. Baker was competing as an individual. Next up for the Weevils is their host tournament on March 15 and 16. Baker said he is excited for the event and the rest of the season.
“It’s been a really good year so far. With COVID it has not been the full college experience yet, but it has been really good so far,” he said.
Johnson and Timmerman will travel to Kansas City in late March for the Muleriders next tournament.
Ty Campbell of Saskatoon was in action this week as well alongside his Southern Wesleyan University teammates in Greenwood, South Carolina.
Campbell shot rounds of 70, 72, and 73 to finish 1-under, good enough for a 13th place tie. The team heads to the North Greenville Invitational on March 15 and 16.
Regina’s Alex Schmidt got her junior season underway for Lewis-Clark State College.
Schmidt was in Eagle Point, Oregon for the Oregon Tech Spring Invite. She finished in 12th place after carding rounds of 87 and 84. As a team the Warriors placed second.
Schmidt’s next event is the Warrior Spring Invitational on March 15 and 16.