THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 14, 1996 TAG: 9607140207
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: 48 lines
To get in the conclusion of the rain-delayed second round of the Eastern Amateur, tournament workers started cleaning up the Elizabeth Manor course at 6:30 a.m. Saturday.
In addition to the regular greens crew, the volunteers included the entire pro shop staff, several tournament officials and some club members.
As the work continued, the original 11:30 a.m. starting time was pushed back three times. Play finally resumed at 2:07 p.m.
``They did a great job to get us going again,'' tournament director Galen Hill said. ``There was at least three truckloads of debris taken off the course.''
AWARDS CEREMONY: Following today's closing round, awards will go to the top 10 finishers. Several special awards also will be presented.
The Joe Tusing Memorial Award will go to the player picked as the best sportsman by tournament officials and workers.
The Lloyd Liebler Memorial Award, a college grant given in memory of a longtime contributor to the success of the Eastern, will to to Western Branch High School golfer Heather Jeffries. She will attend James Madison.
For the first time, the Mid-Amateur Award will be presented. It will go to the top finisher (other than the champion) who is 30 or older.
``This is an effort to recognize players over 30 who maintain their amateur status and work hard to play competitive golf,'' tournament chairman Dave Whitener said.
SUBPAR TRIOS: Officials believe the tourney had another first when two threesomes came in with subpar scores in the same round.
The first group off in the second round all were under par. Bryan Jackson, Patrick Kinley and Don Hill all had 68s.
Later finishers Tom Knight and Lewis Chitengwa also had 68s. Playing partner Curtis Deal posted 69.
PRO-WATCHING: Saturday's abbreviated action enabled several players to go to Williamsburg to watch third-round play in the Michelob Championship.
Hopping into a car with friends, Layne Savoie said, ``This will give me a chance to see a few guys I know that are now pros.''
Savoie finished his second round with a 71 and made the cut for the final round with a 36-hole 146.
FOND MEMORY: Bill Crooks followed son Tim, a Campbell University player from Johnstown, Pa., around the course. Tim also made the cut at 76-72 - 148.
Bill Crooks remembered playing at Elizabeth Manor when the National Jaycee Tournament was held on the course in 1959.
``The field included some pretty good players,'' he recalled. ``I remember Hale Irwin and Ray Floyd played.'' by CNB