Casey Baker didn’t play in last year’s Michigan Amateur Championship, but he’s among a large local contingent heading north for the 100th playing of the state’s oldest amateur golf tournament.

On May 20, 2010 -- the day of Baker’s sectional qualifying tournament for last year’s Michigan Amateur -- the Ann Arbor resident and his wife, Kelly, welcomed daughter Cameron into the world.

A few sleepless nights and golfless days later, the Golf Association of Michigan found him another qualifier to play in. He shot a 79.

Casey Baker is among a large local contingent that will compete in the Michigan Amateur Championship this week.

AnnArbor.com file photo

“I sort of had the feeling it was going to be an ironic twist of fate,” said Baker, vice president of golf shop operations at Miles of Golf. “Tournament golf is a big part of what I love to do, but some things are more important.”

Baker didn’t have to worry about qualifying this year. His win at the GAM Championship in August 2010 made him exempt.

So he heads to The Heather course at Boyne Highlands Resort looking to make up for a little lost time. Two rounds of stroke play begin on Tuesday. The top 64 from the 168-player field advance to match play rounds that end with Saturday’s championship.

Other players in the field with Washtenaw County ties include defending champion Joey Garber, who just completed his freshman season at Michigan.

Garber, a Petoskey native, is very familiar with the Boyne courses.

“When you get up on that first tee, you have to be focused because you never get a break,” said Garber. “It’s in such good condition; you don’t get bad bounces or unlucky breaks. It’s just a fair golf course. I think it brings out the best golf in you.”

Garber’s Michigan teammate, Matt Thompson, will also play; as will local residents Will Clark (Ann Arbor), Peter Farner (Ann Arbor), Phil Geiseker (Saline), Charlie Green (Ann Arbor), Mike Ignasiak (Saline), Marty Jeppesen (Ypsilanti), Aaron Peterson (Ann Arbor), Spencer Slade (Saline) and Adam White (Ann Arbor).

Baker advanced to the quarterfinals of match play at the Michigan Amateur when it was played at The Heather in 2006 (he also reached the semifinals in 2004 and quarterfinals in 2005) and says he “got some good mojo going” when he and Miles of Golf professional Dave Kendall won the Nike Golf State Pro Am there earlier this month.

Baker says unlike some other courses where the tournament is played, The Heather doesn’t favor the big-hitting college-age players.

“This golf course is more about being the best ball striker,” he said. “I pride myself on being a pretty good ball striker.”

Mike Chumbler, Boyne’s director of golf, agrees. He watched Greg Davies win a Michigan Amateur title there in 2006 at age 38.

“It’s a shotmaker’s course,” says Chumbler. “You don’t have any trouble finding trouble.”

Rich Rezler is a sports producer/copy editor for AnnArbor.com. Contact him at richrezler@annarbor.com or 734-623-2553.