THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 17, 1994 TAG: 9407170165
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C11 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
The Eastern Amateur celebrates its 38th birthday when the annual tournament at Elizabeth Manor gets under way on Thursday.
Is the grande dame of area amateur golf tournaments losing its luster?
Few of the 168 participants are known by those outside the playing field itself. Fan interest continues to wane. But officials believe, even with a snubbing by spectators, the tournament is better than ever.
One of the former champions agrees with them.
In bygone years hundreds lined the fairways for the Eastern, still considered by many as one of the top five amateur golf tournaments in the nation.
A number of the previous players were household names among golfing families - Bill Campbell, Deane Beman, Jay Sigel, Vinny Giles. Dozens moved on to the pro ranks with major success - such as Hale Irwin, Craig Stadler, Tom Kite, Ben Crenshaw, Curtis Strange and Lanny Wadkins.
Now the total crowd for the four-day tournament rarely exceeds one day's turnout of 25 years ago.
And what has caused this apparent loss of interest?
Tournament chairman David Whitener has been associated with nearly every Eastern. So ears should perk when Whitener says this year's field ``quite likely is as good, if not better, than any we have ever had.
``In our peak years of spectator interest, there were only a few major pro tournaments on television. We had no pro golf locally. Then the LPGA began a tournament here and the PGA moved into Williamsburg.
``In those earlier years, the amateurs were established stars. Now amateurs move into the pro ranks at an early age.
``But I have no qualms in saying that overall these players here this week are much more proficient than the old players.''
Whitener pointed out that last year's tournament included 48 rounds of sub-par golf, three eagles and a hole-in-one by champion Tom McKnight.
Chesapeake's J. P. Leigh, a winner of the Eastern himself in 1983, laughs when somebody says it's now a no-name tournament.
``There are a lot of the future pro stars coming through here,'' said Leigh. ``And there's no question that the talent is better than ever.
``I won with a four-round 280. Let me tell you, that score will never win another Eastern.
``It wouldn't surprise me to see a score of 12-under-par win this year.''
Par is 280. Twelve under would be 268, which currently stands as the tournament record. Strange posted 268 in 1975. Jon Hurst matched that in 1990. Last year, McKnight won with 269 - rounds of 69, 65, 68 and 67.
Leigh, 47, says the Elizabeth Manor course ``is in the best shape I have ever seen it. And I started playing there as a 7-year-old.''
The players will have a practice round on Wednesday, joined by the 12 low gross finishers in the First Flight Tournament.
The First Flight event Monday and Tuesday is a 36-hole competition for golfers who have handicaps of 2.6 or higher. Otherwise, the Eastern is limited to players with 2.5 and under handicaps.
Chesapeake's Gary Johnson is the defending champion in the First Flight. A field of 180 is competing.
In addition to McKnight and Leigh, some of the formidable players participating this week include collegiate stars David Seawell (South Carolina), Kevin Kemp (Wake Forest), Christian Chernock (Southern Methodist), Scott Rowe (Northwestern), Andrew Achenbach (Penn State), state high school champion Conlin Giles and area standouts Curtis Deal, Scott Moore, Troy Ferris and Jay Rickles. Rickles has won the Virginia Beach Amateur and the Sleepy Hole Amateur this year.
Tournament officials are hoping attendance will soar this year since it's the first time in several years the Eastern has not been played at the same time as the Anheuser-Busch Classic in Williamsburg. The Eastern was moved back two weeks this year.
There is no admission fee for spectators. by CNB