The Virginian-Pilot 
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, July 22, 1994                  TAG: 9407200126
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS      PAGE: 16   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR 
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   52 lines

WILL THE TOURNAMENT HOLD TO FORM? STATISTICIAN PROVIDES A GLIMPSE OF THE BEST AND THE WORST HOLES FOR THE GOLFERS.

IF THE EASTERN Amateur follows its 1993 form again this week, here's some of the highlights spectators might expect:

1 hole-in-one

6 eagles

444 birdies

best round - 65

worst round - 89

average scores of 75, 74, 73 and 73 for the four rounds

Or onlookers might get a portable, totable chair and perch themselves at some of the key holes of the four-day tournament winding up on Sunday at Elizabeth Manor.

According to figures compiled by tournament statistician Lewis Jarvis last year, the toughest hole for the players is the par-4, 464-yard 14th. The easiest hole is the par-5, 573-yard third hole.

``Last year less than half the field, based upon 500 rounds of golf, managed par at No. 14,'' said Jarvis. ``Thirty-five percent of the field averaged bogeys and 10 percent averaged double bogeys or worse.''

Jarvis said 17 percent of the players had birdies at the third hole. ``Sixty-four percent of the field posted pars,'' he said.

Jarvis pointed out that the 18th hole is ``the ideal finishing hole for a tournament.''

This is a 537-yard, par-5 hole. A lake crosses the fairway about 150 yards in front of the green. The possibility that a drive might not carry far enough often forces a player to lay up short. The large green also has a small trap at the left front and a large one on the right front.

``The figures from last year show that the 18th is the best chance for an eagle in the tournament,'' said Jarvis. ``Last year we had six eagles and three came at the 18th.

``But it can be a troublesome hole, too. It was the hole last year with the most double bogeys or worse - by 10.4 percent of the field.

``It also was parred less than any other hole, by just 48 percent.''

Closing ceremonies for the 38th annual Eastern will be about 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Awards will be presented to the top 10 finishers. The Joe Tusing Memorial Award will be given to the tourney's top sportsman in a vote by officials. This award is a silver putter. Last year's winner was Kelly Mitchum. ILLUSTRATION: Chart of scores

by CNB