Local 11-year-old to play in USGA event

WASILLA - She's only 11 years old, but Rynae Baca already has more experience on the golf course than some of the top adults in the state.

She's undefeated in Alaska, five years running.

She's played in three Junior World Championships, placing among the top 13 young players from around the globe each time.

Last year, she became the youngest player to compete in the Alaska State Amateur. She finished with the top net score in the women's first flight.

And on Thursday she will be one of the youngest players to participate in a United States Women's Amateur Public Links qualifier in the nation.

Baca is one of 15 players competing in the first women's public links qualifier to be held in Alaska.

The tourney starts Thursday at 9 a.m. at Settlers Bay Golf Course.

The beauty of the tournament is any amateur player with a handicap of 18.4 or less can participate. Any player, of any age.

She's only 11, but Baca has the numbers to put her in the same category as the top females Alaska has to offer. All Baca needed was her parent's signature on a consent form.

Judging by her numbers - Baca shoots in the high 70s and low 80s off the red and the white tees at the Palmer Golf Course - her father, Roger, thinks she has a good chance of doing well at the USGA event.

&#8220I think she's got a good shot of qualifying,” Roger Baca said. &#8220I looked at the numbers, and she's shooting a little higher than some of the other (players). But when you get there, everyone has a shot.”

Baca will be the second-youngest player to compete in a Public Links Championship qualifier this spring, her father said. A Korean golfer, whom Rynae regularly competes with in the junior world events, is enlisted in a California qualifier, and is two months younger than she is.

Baca is the highlight of a broad spectrum of players who will participate in the Alaska qualifier. The field has a range of age from 11 to 67, and a range of handicap from five to 18.