Family hits fairway

WASILLA -- The Baca family spent their Saturday afternoon at the golf course.

For anyone who knows the Bacas, this is far from a surprise. The golf course, or Settlers Bay in particular, is the Wasilla family's home away from home,

Roger Baca, his wife Carol and their daughters Rynae, 8, and Madison, 6, eat, drink, sleep and dream golf. Their house is a shorter distance from Settlers Bay than the tee is to the flag on the first hole. Each member of the family has their own golf bag and the kids even have their own cart, painted blue, with their names on their seats and a big Tweety Bird painted on the side.

Saying the Bacas have a love for the sport may be an understatement. Not just their free time, but their vacations are golf-related. The Baca family vacations take them to the finest courses across the country. Recent stops have included Desert Palm Springs, Florida and Hawaii.

Even Rynae's golf coach Zac Gavlak joined the Bacas on their trip to Desert Palm Springs.

Roger and Carol's love for the sport has traveled down to their daughters.

The fact is Roger and Carol are raising a pair of fairway phenoms.

Rynae has recently qualified for the U.S. Kids Golf 2003 World Championships in Willimasburg, Va. Over 800 kids from across the country will compete in the event. Rynae shot a 46 to qualify.

In her first year on the Junior Alaska Golf Association Tour, Rynae has been destroying the competition. She is undefeated so far this season, winning each of the six tournaments she has entered.

Baca started the season shooting a 38 at the Palmer Golf Course, she finished with a 42 after nine holes at Settlers Bay, shot a 37 on Moose Run, and a 44 at Anchorage Golf Course.

Rynae started swinging the clubs at the age of four and immediately took to the sport. She has told her dad that she wants to go pro when she is 13.

"To be good this young is very rare," said Gavlak who is trying to find his own spot on the professional tour. "A lot of kids don't even start until they are 12, especially in Alaska."

"She has a ton of potential," Gavlak added.

Rynae spends an average of two hours per day working on her game, in addition to playing the courses. But unlike some families where the parents have to hustle the kids out the door, it is the opposite in the Baca home.

"Right as I get home from work I get talked into playing a couple holes, and we end up playing nine," Roger said.

And Rynae is not the only Baca sibling having success on the course. Madison is just a few strokes behind her older sister.

Madison, who also competes on the Alaska Junior Golf Tour, placed third at Settlers Bay with a 64 and second at Moose Run with a 57.

Both Baca girls may be aiming for a spot on the pro tour.