THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 22, 1994 TAG: 9407220680
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
Calling it ``a storybook day for me,'' hometowner Steve Liebler grabbed the first-round lead in the 38th annual Eastern Amateur Thursday at Elizabeth Manor.
Liebler, a Portsmouth native and the University of South Carolina golf coach, fired a 2-under-par 68 to claim a one-shot lead over seven challengers, including defending champion Tom McKnight, in a field of 174.
With McKnight at 69 are former State Open champion Tony Deluca, former Old Dominion golfer Michael Stamberger, Gregory Bisconti, David Hall, Wil Huntley and Ben Taylor.
For awhile it appeared McKnight might make a shambles of the tournament on opening day. The 39-year-old Galax, Va., golfer rolled in seven birdies in the first 12 holes to go 6-under and build a five-shot lead over Liebler.
But a double bogey at the 13th, a bogey at the 14th and another double bogey at the 16th dropped McKnight from the lead.
Liebler, 2-under par on the front side, held tough on the back nine as he and the other late starters battled a strong, swirling wind that gusted up to 30 mph.
A two-putt birdie from 40 feet at the par-5 18th brought Liebler back to 2-under and gave him the lead. He also had birdies at the
first, third, eighth and 14th holes, bogeying the fifth, 11th and 13th.
``I tried to take the wind out of most of my shots,'' said Liebler. ``I played knockdown shots on the back side.''
``But this is like a storybook to me,'' said the 35-year-old Liebler, who regained his amateur status just last month after turning professional following his victory in the 1981 Eastern.
``Coming back home and playing before my family and friends who saw me before as just a kid - there were butterflies there when I started, but I had a lot of confidence.
``Certainly it wasn't a perfect round, but I'm satisfied to be leading. You can check with all of my Gamecocks. I'm a hard person to please.
``I just want to feel satisfied when we finish, whether I'm first or whether I'm 10th.''
McKnight was much less satisfied. ``I hate to throw away a chance for a really good round,'' he said.
``I simply had a mental letdown on the 13th. I was in the edge of the left rough and then shanked my wedge shot. I was thinking bogey when I missed a 4-foot putt. I think that hurt more than the shank.
``Coming in, the wind was hard to figure and I had a little indecision. Then I lost my concentration and let it get the best of me.''
Reflecting on last year's tournament, he added: ``I had a 69 in the first round last year, but (then and now) I took two different routes.''
A recent ODU graduate, Stamberger had 36-33, one of just three 2-under efforts on the back nine. A three-putt bogey on the 14th cost him a share of the lead.
Another June graduate, Michigan's Hall, posted a 33-36. ``I wasn't missing any gimmies, but I did miss some makeable putts,'' he said. ``But I'll take the 69. I've played here the past two years and this is my first time under 70.''
Both Taylor, a 19-year-old University of Florida player, and Deluca, a 1981 State Open champion who has regained his amateur status, had 34-35. Deluca flew in on a family airplane shortly before he teed off.
Bisconti, a St. John's player, matched Stamberger's back-nine 33 in his 69, as did Scott Summers, who was among 11 players at even-par 70.
N.C. State's Huntley had 35-34, parring the first 13 holes. An 18-year-old rising sophomore who was redshirted last year, Huntley said he ``left a couple of putts on the lip at No. 7 and No. 8. But overall, I played steady and didn't fight the wind.''
The field will be cut to the low 80 and ties after today's second round. Tournament officials have paired the three former champions in this year's field - Liebler, McKnight and 1983 winner J.P. Leigh, who shot 73 Thursday. They tee off at 10:06 a.m. on the 10th hole. by CNB