Independence, Love Of The Game Keep Him On Top

WAITSBURG - Seventeen-yearold Dakota Baker doesn't even remember the first time his grandpa took him to a course to golf because he was so young. And all of that time on the greens and hitting drives is paying off. Baker is the lone Waitsburg High School golfer competing in District 9 and he's hoping to make another trip to the state competition in a few weeks.

"I love being outside in the fresh air," Baker said about his love for the sport. "And I like hanging out with my friends, too."

Baker's grandpa, Paul Lommasson, was the one who bought Baker a disc golf set when he was about five and has been a large influence in Baker's golfing abilities, Baker's mother Brenda said. Lommasson had golfed a long time and was even in the Union-Bulletin years ago in a piece on the sport, she added.

"My grandpa hooked me up with it," Baker said. "I loved it ever since."

And because he wants to compete and the WP sports combine doesn't have a sports team, Baker has been bouncing around to a couple of local teams, practicing with them and riding with them to golf matches and practices. Baker's freshman year golf season was played alongside the DeSales team. Dayton had a team his sophomore year, so he played with the Dogs. And when Dayton didn't continue its golf team this year, he was back at DeSales, said DeSales golf coach Lon Olson.

"Dakota is a nice, easygoing kid who blended in really well," Olson said. "He's very responsible."

And being responsible is important when you are essentially the only one on the team, Olson said. Baker has to really take care of himself when it comes to golf. He has to keep track of the DeSales schedule and even though he's left out of the team picture or left out of the newspaper in its coverage of the DeSales golf team, Olson said Baker doesn't ever get upset. And despite the fact that Baker doesn't take private golf lessons in addition to practice and that he has to be more independent than the other players on the team, Olson said Baker is still competing well and is tied with the no. 4 DeSales player on his 17-member team.

"He could definitely hit the ball from the get-go," Olson remembers as his first impression of Baker. "He was pretty solid in the basics."

And Baker is still pretty solid. In state last year in Tacoma, he was in the top 10 on the first day of competition and placed 13th the next day, Brenda Baker said. This year, she said he's trying a new swing and not progressing as well as he had hoped. He's been shooting mostly between 80 and 90 this year, Olson said, and you have to be shooting in the 90s or lower to go to state.

"He just thinks he needs to practice more," Brenda Baker said. "And he doesn't like advice from his mom."

Baker said he is performing OK. He shot an 80 at his most recent tournament and he's ready for sub-districts on May 8 and districts on May 15. For now, he's just getting out and practicing, working on hitting the ball, which he loves most, and putting, which he hates most. He said he's starting to like putting though. Also, he'll be focusing on improving his chipping, grip, aim and stance.

"I'm trying to get more consistent with my drives," Baker said.

Olson said most of his golfers struggle with putting because they play on different courses with different greens.

"Being able to read and adjust from course to course and hole to hole (is crucial)," Olson said.

And while Baker is working on putting and getting himself back and forth from practice, Olson and Baker said his family is behind him the whole way. Grandpa even still gets out and plays with him sometimes, Baker said. Because of their support, it makes going it alone easier.

"In lieu (of being independent) he has done very well," Olson said. "He's done a really admiral job of working it out. He loves the game."