BEING named the Northern Mallee Sports Star of the Year has made the travel and training worth it for emerging Robinvale golf star Steph Baker.
Baker, 17, took out the Peter Manolas Trophy at Friday night’s awards ceremony, but was unable to be there as she embarks on her first season of Victorian Pennant with Keysborough Golf Club in Melbourne.
“It means a lot, just knowing that all the hard work I’ve put in has paid off,” she said.
Baker’s father Daneil, accepted the award on Friday night, informing his daughter after the event with both thrilled at the win.
He said he got through his initial speech recognising his daughter’s nomination as one of 12 for the award, but “couldn’t speak” after she took out the main prize.
“I was that overwhelmed with happiness and emotion, I couldn’t get a word out for the speech,” he said.
“I had to call up one of my friends on the table and read the speech out Stephanie had prepared.”
Baker rated her 2024 as a “seven-and-a-half out of 10”, suggesting room for improvement, with her results including her second consecutive Victorian Junior Country Championship title and open women’s titles at Robinvale, Coomealla, and Red Cliffs.
“I probably rate the year pretty high,” she said. “I felt like I was pretty consistent with all my tournament scores throughout the year.”
2025 has already started brilliantly for Baker who took out the Tasmania Junior Masters at Devonport Country Club last month and is now eyeing a strong finish at the Australian Junior Amateur Championship in Brisbane in April.
“The goal this year is to win another event and probably try to get into the top-10 at the Australian Junior Amateurs,” she said.
Since taking up the sport at age 10, inspired by her paternal grandmother, Baker has been on an fast upward trajectory, winning a club championships at her home club Riverside Golf Club at a young age.
Along the way as her handicap has shrunk, she has enjoyed mentorship from decorated Riverside golfer Lisa Garioch and has trained under Mildura professional Mike McKenzie and Golf Australia high performance tier four coach Travis Harrison in Melbourne.
But Baker’s successes have been hard-earned as the year 12 student balances twice-weekly trips to Mildura for gym, and travel for training and playing, as well a school and a part-time job in Robinvale.
“She gives 1000 per cent, I’d go as far to say. She’s a dedicated person to whatever she puts her mind to,” Daneil said.
Baker, who plays off scratch, is ramping things up as she takes on the ultra-competitive Victorian Pennant – where handicaps aren’t applied – and enjoyed a three-up victory at The National Golf Club on the Mornington Peninsula on Sunday.
In addition to more big performances this year, including nine weekends of Melbourne-based pennant in a row, the family has secured an agent to look into a US College scholarship for Baker.
She will also be travelling for tournaments, high performance training in Melbourne and occasional club pennant but her love of the game is as strong as ever.
“I love how it’s independent and you are only relying on yourself and not other people to perform well,” she said.
