Senior golfer Malley Baker is still relatively new to the sport, but the Arapaho-Butler High School standout has already embraced the challenge of leading the Lady Indians on the course.
Baker, a senior, said her biggest inspirations are close to home. “My parents because they have given me opportunities and have supported me,” Baker said. Their encouragement helped her pick up golf just a year ago, a decision that quickly turned into a passion.
Her favorite part of competing for Arapaho-Butler is the shared mindset within the program. “I like this team because we have a great time and we all want to win,” Baker said. That mix of fun and competitiveness shows up daily as the Lady Indians work to improve their scores.
Baker has put extra attention into her short game, especially on the greens. She calls her putter her favorite club “because I have spent a lot of time practicing putting.” “My putting,” she added, is also the part of her game she has worked on the most. “I think that part of the game is the most important because it can be easy to rack up strokes if you are not careful.”
Her home away from home is Riverside Golf Course in Clinton, her favorite layout. “We practice there and the course is nice,” Baker said. Her lowest round so far is a 95, a milestone she reached while playing with her dad. “I have only been playing for one year,” she said.
Away from golf, Baker enjoys math class and points to high school math teacher Mrs. Edelen as her favorite. She spends her free time with family and friends and follows professional star Scottie Scheffler, her favorite golfer “because he is good at golf and seems like a genuinely nice person.”
Golf has already left a lasting mark on Baker’s outlook. “One thing athletics has taught me is to keep going,” she said. “When something doesn’t go your way, look ahead at the future and don’t worry about the past.”
