THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 15, 1995 TAG: 9507150505
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines
Neither was especially happy, but first-round co-leaders Lee Eagleton and Tom McKnight stayed far in front of the field at the midpoint of the 39th annual Eastern Amateur on Friday.
Both posted par 70s over the Elizabeth Manor course for 36-hole 134s. Press McPhaul, a North Carolina State player, and the University of North Carolina's Ryan Parker stand a distant third, five shots back, as the 168-player field was trimmed to the low 85 for the last two rounds. McPhaul had 68-71 and Parker carded 70-69.
Old Dominion's Chris Krueger joined the contenders at 140, shooting a 4-under 68 to share low-round honors for the day with the University of Virginia's Jimmy Flippen. Flippen is among six at 142.
Five, including defending champion Steve Liebler, are at 141. Liebler was among six shooting 69s. Six others matched par.
Eagleton, a 22-year-old Australian, bruised his right ring finger when he reacted to a disappointing approach shot at the 18th hole.
``I shoved my club into the bag with a bit too much authority,'' he said. It bloodied his finger around the nail and left a nasty bruise.
``It won't bother me,'' he said. ``But I think I learned not to do it again.''
Posting 35-35, Eagleton had birdies on the second, seventh and 15th holes. He had bogeys at Nos. 4, 5 and 15.
``I felt like I hit it as good as I did Thursday,'' he said. ``But I had a lot of putts I missed. I believe I could have shot a 67 or so if I had made some of those putts.''
Eagleton had never played the course before the tournament. ``It was entirely different these two days,'' he said. ``Today we had a strong wind blowing another way that made it a tough finish on the back nine.''
The 40-year-old McKnight, who became the Eastern's oldest champion when he won two years ago, was even less satisfied with his round.
``I really didn't play well,'' McKnight said. ``I hit a lot of bad shots.''
J.P. Leigh, another former Eastern winner who was playing with McKnight and had 72, said: ``The 70 is a tribute to what a fine golfer Tom is. Just about anybody else would have shot 73 or 74 in that round. But he reminds me of (pro golf Hall of Famer) Chandler Harper around the greens. And because of this strength in his game you can look for McKnight to be up there when it's over.''
McKnight parred 14 holes, registering birdies at Nos. 2 and 9 and bogeying Nos. 8 and 17.
Parker, a rising junior who transferred to North Carolina from Georgia Tech and redshirted the past season, was a 10th-place Eastern finisher last year.
``A little stronger finish today and I could be pushing the leaders,'' he said. ``I had birdie putts lip out on the last two holes and I had a bogey at No. 16.
``But the pins were tucked in tough places this round and you had to putt well to score.''
Krueger and Flippen each registered 3-under 32s on the back nine. Krueger parred only two of the holes - Nos. 12 and 15. He had birdies at the 10th, 11th, 13th, 14th and 18th and bogeys at 16 and 17.
Despite being seven strokes behind, Liebler remained confident.
``I know I have to be within three or four come Sunday. I made a small step back today but I could have really got in there with a few more putts. I let several opportunities get away. My iron game was real sharp.
``With two rounds to go, this is far from over. I feel good about where I am, especially after my first round.''
ACC champion Hank Kim probably eliminated himself with a 77 after an opening 68.
Kim, from N.C. State, had double bogeys at the 15th and 17th and needed a birdie finish for his 77.
The field was cut at 149. Those failing to survive included Steve Irwin, son of PGA star Hale Irwin, First Flight winner George Kemp and 16-year-old Matt Paulson, the State junior champion and youngest participant.
Today's third round was moved up from the usual 8 a.m. start to 7:30 in an effort to beat some of the heat from an expected 95-degree afternoon. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photos]
MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN
Staff Photos
First-round co-leaders Tom McKnight, above, and Lee Eagleton stayed
five shots ahead of the rest of the field.
EASTERN LEADERS
[For a copy of the list, see microfilm for this date.]
MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN
Staff
Tom McKnight hits his approach to the 18th green. He shot a 70 on
Friday.
EASTERN AMATEUR SCOREBOARD
[For a copy of the results, see microfilm for this date.]
by CNB