Photo by Kim North
St. Clairsville’s Olivia Baker, front row middle, signed her National Letter of Intent on Wednesday to attend St. John University which is located in the Queens section of New York City. She is pictured with, front row, from left, her father, Ron; mother Julie; and St. Clairsville golf coaches Ryan Clifford and Heidi Mooney. In back, from left, are her brothers, Evan and Aaron.
ST. CLAIRSVILLE — While the results of the Ohio Girls State Golf Championship weren’t quite what St. Clairsville’s Olivia Baker was anticipating, just being there and playing well gave her some extra exposure for competing at the next level.
The Red Devils senior finished fifth in the Division II event held at Heatherwoode Golf Course in Bellbrook, but rain in early October forced the scheduled two-day tournament into a one-day affair in which she shot 73.
“It was disappointing but, at the same time, it opened up so many opportunities for me,” Baker said. “I’m thankful that it ended like it did.”
Had it not been for that exposure and a little help from her father, Ron, and her coach, Jason Scarbone, Baker might not have been able to get a chance to play at the next level.
Wednesday morning, she signed her NCAA Division I National Letter of Intent to attend St. John University on a full golf scholarship in the middle school auditorium before family, friends and teammates.
“It feels amazing. I can’t wait to be part of a team that has so much talent,” Baker said. “Despite all of my success in high school, I never once thought I would be signing with a big school like St. John.”
Baker had her sights on NAIA member Taylor University in Upland, Ind., before her father and coach got involved. Her father is the pro at Belmont Hills Country Club west of St. Clairsville and Scarbone is the head pro at Canterbury Golf Club in Beechwood.
“My dad and Jason, who I get lessons from, both reached out (to St. John) and then we all kind of reached out at once,” she said of the Red Storm, who came into the picture late. “Luckily they were looking for one other player to fill out their roster.”
She was also persuaded by her visit to ‘The Big Apple.’ St. John University is located in the Queens section of the city.
“It was amazing … beautiful,” she beamed. “It’s something that I will never forget and I can’t wait to spend the next four years of my life living up there.”
Baker was the first medalist at the OVAC Girls Golf Championships in 2023 and then repeated that performance this past fall at Oglebay Park Speidel Golf Course. She was runnerup in 2024.
“It was neat to be all-state. I can’t believe my high school is over, but I’ve got another chapter of my life to start,” she added.
The Red Storm compete in the 11-team Big East along with Butler, Creighton, DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, Seton Hall, UConn and Xavier.
Baker is also the daughter of Julie Baker and has two brothers, Evan and Aaron.
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