Press Releases

Sugarloaf/USA Golf Pro Qualifies for the PGA Championship

Wednesday, June 30, 2004

CARRABASSETT VALLEY, Maine - Sugarloaf/USA Golf Club professional Mike Baker, Jr. will be among the world's best golfers in the 86th Annual PGA Championship Aug. 12-15 at the Whistling Straits Golf Club in Kohler, Wisconsin.

Baker shot a 4-day score of 288, or even par, to place 17th in the PGA Club Professional Championship at Longaberger Golf Club in Nashport, Ohio, over the weekend to earn one of 25 highly coveted invitations to compete in one of golf's most prestigious events.

In addition to the top 25 finishers in the Club Professional Championship, the PGA Championship field will be made up of past U.S. Open, Masters, and British Open champions along with the top 70 leaders in the official money standings.

This August's PGA Championship will be the second time Baker will compete in one of the four major PGA events known as the Grand Slam of Golf and the second time he's played the Whistling Straits course on the shore of Lake Michigan. Baker finished 8th in the 1999 Club Professional Championship, which was held at Whistling Straits. That experience, he says, will give him a leg up. "I've played the course a half a dozen times and played it well and I'm in good shape mentally."

As for the experience to get to play with the top golfers in the world, Baker says he's looking forward to it. "They assign lockers alphabetically so guys like (Fred) Couples are right there. It's pretty amazing to be a part of it." Baker says making the cut in the PGA Championship is his immediate goal. "Like Tiger Woods says it's just about being in contention."

Baker, who is from Herman, Maine, joined the Sugarloaf teaching staff in the fall of 2003. Previously he was with Kebo Valley, Penobscot Valley, and Bangor Municipal golf clubs. He says playing Sugarloaf regularly has helped him elevate his game to a higher level. "After you play Sugarloaf, you don't have any fear of holes on other courses. You know you can play them," Baker said.

Baker is competing in the Greater Portland Open this week and will play in all major contests in Maine including the State of Maine Championship July 20-21 at Sugarloaf.

About Sugarloaf/USA Ski Resort - Located in Carrabassett Valley, Maine, Sugarloaf/USA is recognized among the top ski and golf resorts in the world. Sugarloaf/USA is part of the American Skiing Company. Its resorts include Killington and Mount Snow in Vermont; Sunday River and Sugarloaf/USA in Maine; Attitash Bear Peak in New Hampshire; Steamboat in Colorado and The Canyons in Utah.

www.sugarloaf.com