THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 7, 1996 TAG: 9607040222
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 15 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: Bill Leffler
LENGTH: 61 lines
To most folks, Steve Jones was just a no-name winner of the U. S. Open.
The 37-year-old Jones hadn't won a golf tournament since 1989.
But his victory on June 16, a one-shot edge over Tom Lehman and Davis Love, provided him with a $425,000 paycheck. And it brought back memories of what a promising golfer Jones appeared to be when he played in the Eastern Amateur.
The Eastern Amateur?
Yep! Jones played here in the 1981 tournament won by Steve Liebler. He was a solid contender for the crown himself, finishing in a tie for sixth place but only four strokes behind the winner.
Jones came in from Boulder, Colo. and posted rounds of 73, 68, 74 and 71. At the tourney's mid-point he was just a shot off the lead.
Jones is just one of a large number of players who have gone on to success in the pro ranks, using the Eastern Amateur as a stepping stone.
Tim Newsom, the Elizabeth Manor pro, has charted a list of former Eastern participants who went on to play professionally.
Would you believe there have been nearly 100! Five have gone on to win the U. S. Open, including two-time champion Curtis Strange. The other Eastern alumni capturing golf's most coveted title were Scott Simpson, Hale Irwin, Tom Kite and Jones. And only Strange won the Eastern. Simpson was fourth when Strange topped the 1975 Eastern field. Kite was in a four-way tie for first in 1970, losing in a playoff with Steve Melynk. Irwin tied for sixth in the 1987 Eastern, which Hal Underwood won.
Eight ex-Eastern players are competing on the Senior tour. Fifteen compete in the Nike circuit.
Eight college coaches, six still active, have competed in the Eastern. Old Dominion's Murray Rudisill and Virginia's Mike Moraghan are regular participants.
Former South Carolina coach Steve Liebler is a two-time Eastern winner. Florida coach Buddy Alexander won the Eastern in the only year it was not held at Elizabeth Manor. He won at Sleepy Hole in 1977 while coaching at Georgia Southern. It was the seventh time Alexander played in the Eastern.
``You can see the past champions' pictures hanging on the wall in our clubhouse lounge,'' said Newsom. ``What most of us forget is that many of the now famous players did not win here - Irwin, Corey Pavin, Craig Stadler and Scott Hoch to name a few. Hoch played here five times. He was runnerup on three occasions and was third another time.''
Newsom pointed out that past Easterns have included a dozen players who won the U. S. Amateur title. One was Nathaniel Crosby, son of the late Bing Crosby. Another was recent Virginia Sports Hall of Fame inductee Lanny Wadkins.
Currently, the PGA Tour leader in fairways hit off the tee is Fred Funk, the former University of Maryland coach. Funk competed in several Easterns in the 70s, finishing 10th in 1979.
``I think most of us know we have one of the most prestigious amateur golf tournaments in the country,'' said Newsom. ``And there will be many more names added in the future whose successful paths we can follow from out of the Eastern Amateur.'' ILLUSTRATION: File photo
Steve Jones, U.S. Open winner, played here in the 1981 Eastern
Amateur. by CNB