Luke Bakke was home Friday -- playing golf and sharing a cart with his father.
Bakke made the turn at Maumelle Country Club at 3-over par, awful by his standards, and seemed delighted.
Bakke, 33, a Little Rock Christian and UALR graduate who now lives in Seattle, played better on the back nine to finish the first round of the Maumelle Classic at 4-over-par 76. He is in a five-way tie for 17th, six strokes behind the leaders at Maumelle Country Club.
Dennis Godoy of Hideaway, Texas, Austin Harmon of Benton, and Tyler Reynolds of Little Rock share the lead at 70.
"I've always thought that there are a lot of people who don't get to do this, so you should enjoy yourself whether you are 4 over or 4 under," Bakke said. "I enjoy being out there however I'm playing. Why would I be mad on a golf course?"
Bakke won the Maumelle Classic in 2006 during perhaps his best season of golf. He lost that summer to Webb Simpson -- the 2012 U.S. Open champion -- in the second round of the U.S. Amateur. He turned professional in the fall and won his second start on the Chilean PGA Tour.
Prior to turning pro, Bakke played in eight United States Golf Association events, including four U.S. Amateur Championships.
Before he gave up on his daydream of success and riches as a professional golfer, Bakke had two third-place finishes on the Hooters Tour, including his next-to-last tournament in Bentonville in 2010. He said he made about $13,000, then went to Houston for its final event of the year.
Bakke said he shot 68 in the first round and was in third place, but played the second round in 76 to miss the cut.
"I said, 'That's it,' " Bakke said. "You know, I just wasn't quite good enough. I had no money. Living paycheck to paycheck is no fun, so I thought it was time to get a real job."
Bakke now earns his living as a telecommunications salesman. Though he no longer needs to earn paychecks from golf, Bakke said he still occasionally daydreams.
"You never know," he said. "Maybe someday. Two weekends ago I won my club championship in Seattle. I shot 64-69 and won by nine shots. And I was like, 'Oh, I could turn pro.' Then I go out today and shoot 76, so you never know."
Bakke struggled to sink putts throughout his round, but hit three in row on Nos. 15-17. His said his 10-footer to save par on 15 saved his round.
"I remember thinking, 'If I have a chance in this tournament I have to make this. I need to make this.' I knew I couldn't shoot 78. You know, maybe I can shoot 68-68 [over the final two rounds] and 4 under will be good enough."
Bakke's tee shots typically landed behind those of playing partners Brad Frederikson and Eddie Craven, but rarely missed fairways. After Bakke alone hit the narrow fairway between the cottonwoods and oaks of No. 11, Frederikson shook his head and laughed.
"It's hard to hit that fairway, unless you're Luke Bakke," he said.
Bakke drove the cart down the 18th fairway with his father, Chris, beside him, stopping at his tee shot in the middle.
"The key to your game is driving straight and putting," Chris told Luke. "And your putting is coming back."
There was no need for a putt on No. 18, as Bakke holed out from a greenside bunker to finish with two birdies in the final three holes.
"I still enjoy that, being in a pressure situation like that," Bakke said. "You know, there were a few people watching and I was excited."
Sports on 07/26/2014