THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, July 25, 1994 TAG: 9407250155
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines
Posting back-to-back victories that were 13 years apart, Steve Liebler captured the 38th annual Eastern Amateur Sunday at Elizabeth Manor with a 4-under-par 276.
Liebler, who shot an even-par 70 in the final round, claimed the win when Tony DeLuca barely missed a 11-foot birdie putt on the final hole that would have produced a playoff.
Portsmouth native Liebler, head golf coach at the University of South Carolina for the past nine years, won the tournament in 1981, his last competition as an amateur before embarking on a 12-year-pro career.
Liebler regained his amateur status in June. Coincidentally, DeLuca was reinstated as an amateur one month earlier.
``The first Eastern win was thrilling for me because it was before my family and friends,'' Liebler said.
``I thought (in 1981) it was the last time I would ever play as an amateur. But I believe this one means even more to me. This shows I can still play.''
The 35-year-old Liebler posted rounds of 68-67-71-70, leading at the end of all four days. Sunday, he had to withstand a push from DeLuca, of
Vienna, Va., and David Seawell, the No. 1 player on Liebler's South Carolina team.
Seawell, who started the day three back and played in the next-to-last threesome ahead of Liebler, pulled even at the 10th when his coach had a bogey.
But Liebler moved back in front with a birdie at No. 11.
Perhaps too aggressive in trying to regain a share of the lead, the 20-year-old Seawell bogeyed the 15th, 16th and 17th to fall out of contention.
Meanwhile the steady DeLuca, who had rounds of 69, 69, 70 and 69, was making his move.
He has fallen three behind after the front nine, but picked up a shot by parring the 10th and matched Liebler's birdie at No. 11.
DeLuca dropped three back on the 13th after another Liebler birdie, but moved within one at the 15th with a birdie and two-shot swing as Liebler bogeyed.
``My shoulder locked on me there and from then on it kept popping out of the socket,'' said Liebler, who plays with a back brace and plans to have surgery in the fall.
``The rest of the way I was hitting very carefully and hoping I wouldn't have to hit it too hard.''
Both parred 16 and 17.
``So I know I'm coming in to 18 needing a birdie if he has another par,'' DeLuca said.
``I wanted to put pressure on him but I had a poor tee shot and had to lay up my second shot to stay out of the lake. Instead, the pressure was on me.''
He came through on his third shot to the par-5 hole, hitting a magnificent 212-yard 4-iron to 11 feet.
Liebler barely missed a 12-foot birdie putt on the high side and tapped in for par.
DeLuca was left with a straight-in putt, slightly uphill, to tie.
``When I hit it, I said to myself, `It's in,' '' he said. ``I played it to the edge of the hole and it just stayed there.
``But I think Steve and I both showed a lot of the old-time heart playing with these young fellows.''
When the putt didn't fall, DeLuca walked directly to Liebler and congratulated him.
Seawell was alone in third place with a 71 for 280. Dennis Hillman, Brett Boner and defending champion Tom McKnight shared fourth at 281.
Hillman, from Rye, N.Y., scorched the course in a 4-under 66 Sunday that included seven birdies.
Furman's Scott Summers and Binghamton College's Chris Sladish, who eagled the last hole, posted 67s and finished at 282 with former Michigan player David Hall. ILLUSTRATION: ROBIE RAY
David Seawell, left, briefly caught up to his coach, Steve Liebler.
ROBIE RAY
Steve Liebler, left, a hometowner who had the gallery with him, gets
a hug from brother Butch.
Results
[For a copy of the results, see microfilm for this date.]
by CNB