THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 11, 1996 TAG: 9607110547
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: 71 lines
Maybe the crowds aren't what they used to be. The only real gallery anymore gathers when the leaders head into the final holes of the tournament.
Once spectators had to arrive early to get a parking space. Stickers on car windows were necessary even to get a spot off the driving range.
In bygone years players were household names - career amateur greats, Walker Cup competitors, definite professional prospects.
Today the Eastern Amateur at Elizabeth Manor starts its 40th year. Certainly many are the pro stars of tomorrow.
But only the avid followers of golf are familiar with most of the 162 players in this four-day, 72-hole tourney.
Nevertheless, the competition is keener than ever. Tournament officials believe the 1996 field is talented enough to produce a threat to all-time tournament records. And they can show you statistics that prove the present players are better.
Eastern statistician Lewis Jarvis and club pro Tim Newsom have compiled a chart of the past 39 tournaments, showing the scores for all the top 10 finishers.
At the outset in 1957 the No. 10 finisher posted 307, still the highest score ever. As the field began to get the premier players in amateur golf, the scores started downward. But it wasn't until 1970 - 13 years later - that 10th place was under 285.
Contrast this with the achievements of some more recent visitors to Elizabeth Manor Country Club.
In six of the last seven tournaments, the 10th place finish was below 285. Last year, 10th place was 283, the same as it was the past two tournaments.
A par 280 hasn't been good enough to win the Eastern since J. P. Leigh won with that total in 1983.
Tom McKnight of Galax won a year ago with a 6-under 274. And he had to go an extra hole to win a playoff against Australian Lee Eagleton.
McKnight barely fell short of matching the tournament record of 268 with his 269 in 1993, the first of his two Eastern victories. The 72-hole mark was first set by Curtis Strange in 1975 and tied by Old Dominion's Jon Hurst in 1990.
Before playing a practice round Wednesday, McKnight admitted he was ``playing pretty good right now.''
``I just want to go play and see what I can do,'' he said in sizing up his hopes for third title.
He was one shot behind the winner in the recent Rice-Planters and eighth in the Dogwood last week. But he finished 6-under par in the Rice-Planters and 9-under in the Dogwood.
And McKnight's explanation for the lower scores in the Eastern in recent years?
``There's just an awful lot of good players now,'' he said.
His challengers this year include the State Amateur champion, John Rollins of Virginia Commonwealth University, runner-up Troy Ferris of Virginia Beach (Campbell College) and medalist Jim Flippen, a former University of Virginia player who will turn pro in August.
The tourney lost ex-ODU standout Chris Krueger, who has decided to join the professional ranks this month.
Other contenders include Scott Newton, runner-up in the North and South, and Billy Bennett of Sam Houston State, a winner of two collegiate tournaments this year.
Most likely, followers of this tournament will have their eyes on these amateurs as they head into the final few holes. Or maybe there will be a no-name winner whose picture can go into the clubhouse lounge alongside such former Eastern champions as Strange, Deane Beman, Lanny Wadkins, Ben Crenshaw and Andy Bean. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
1993 and 1995 Eastern Am champion Tom McKnight is considered one of
the favorites this year. by CNB