THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 21, 1995 TAG: 9507210182
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 21 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
THERE WASN'T a phone call from President Clinton, but there was a call from Spain for Eastern Amateur champion Tom McKnight.
The call came from Tom's 16-year-old son, Tee, who is a summer student there.
Two years ago, Tee caddied when his dad won the 37th annual Eastern at Elizabeth Manor. This time he followed the action by phone as his 40-year-old father claimed his second championship Sunday at Elizabeth Manor.
And this time McKnight, the father of three from Galax, Va., was forced to go into overtime. He defeated 22-year-old Australian Lee Eagleton on the first hole of a playoff after the two had battled through 72 holes for a 6-under-par 274 deadlock. McKnight won with an 8-foot birdie putt.
Not since 1986 had the Eastern finished in a tie.
McKnight thought he was going to win on the final hole of regulation. When Eagleton bogeyed the 18th, losing a one-shot lead after hitting out of bounds, McKnight needed a 14-foot birdie putt to win.
His shot rimmed the cup.
``I thought it was perfect,'' said McKnight. ``I really thought it was over there.''
On the playoff hole, the 357-yard, par 4 first hole, McKnight's approach shot was 8 feet short of the pin. The long-hitting Eagleton went 17 feet past the cup and had a tough downhill putt, which he just missed to the right of the hole.
``I wasn't thinking of missing,'' said McKnight, after sinking his tourney winner.
``That really was the difference between us,'' pointed out Eagleton. ``He putted a little better than I did. I've won a few tournaments in playoffs and this is the first playoff I lost. It feels a lot better to win.''
McKnight had rounds of 64, 70, 69 and 71.
``I'll be back next year,'' he promised.
``Right now,'' he added, ``my ankles are all raw from walking in the tall grass.'' McKnight was referring to the rough that reached six inches at some spots on the course.
This was McKnight's fifth appearance in the Eastern. He tied for fourth last year. He is a three-time Virginia State Amateur winner and a former State Open champion. He played on the pro tour from 1976 to 1980, regaining his amateur status in 1984.
``He's just a solid all-around player,'' said former Eastern champion J.P. Leigh, a perennial contender himself. ``He isn't fazed about somebody outdriving him. Around the greens he is superb. And he is never going to beat himself when the championship is on the line.''
Runner-up Eagleton passed up a week's vacation in Florida with five fellow Australians to play in the tournament. He also said he would return next year.
``Most definitely I wanted to win but I am happy where I finished,'' said Eagleton. ``I had a good tournament. McKnight just had a little better one.''
Third-place Ryan Parker, a University of North Carolina player, closed with a 69 for a 72-hole 276. It matched last year's winning score by Steve Liebler, who tied for seventh at 282, and was better than 30 previous victorious totals.
``I expect to play again next year,'' said Ryan. ``If I could do something about that double bogey on the 17th in this last round, I might still be in there playing with them this time.''
All of the frontrunners said they expected to come back in 1996 except the University of Virginia's Jimmy Flippen. Flippen, the North-South runner-up, tied with Paul Carpenter of UNC-Charlotte and Scott Summers of Furman for fourth place at 281.
Flippen has finished his eligibility at U.Va. He plans to get his degree at Coastal Carolina in Jacksonville, N.C., and then pursue a pro career. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by CHRISTOPHER REDDICK
Tom McKnight shows his disappointment when his putt at the 18th hole
failed to avert a playoff. His shot rimmed the cup.
by CNB