THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, June 26, 1996 TAG: 9606260444
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: 48 lines
Tom McKnight, the defending champion, will be in the 1996 Eastern Amateur field that includes players from 21 states, the District of Columbia and five from outside the United States.
While naming the players who have committed to participate in the July 11-14 tournament at Elizabeth Manor, chairman Dave Whitener also announced the creation of a Mid-Amateur Award to become an annual presentation of the 40-year-old tourney.
``A gift certificate and trophy will be awarded to the player over 30 with the lowest score,'' said Whitener. ``If such a player wins the tournament, as McKnight did a year ago, the next top finisher in that age range will get the Mid-Amateur Award.''
McKnight, 41, became the oldest winner of the Eastern last year.
Tournament director Galen Hill pointed out that officials wanted to recognize players over 30 who maintain their amateur status and play competitive golf, but the Eastern will continue its practice of seeking out young golfers.
``We are taking a select number of players out of high school,'' said Hill. ``This year we have 16, including Matt Paulson of Virginia Beach.''
In addition to 80 starters on college golf teams last year, the Eastern has three players from Australia and two from Canada.
Last year 22-year-old Australian Lee Eagleton lost to McKnight in a one-hole playoff after the two had tied at 6-under-par 274.
``Lee has turned pro,'' said Hill. ``But we have Ben Ferguson, Graydon Woolridge and Edward Stedman coming in from Australia. And we have Bradley Black and Mark Wilson from Canada.''
Among the contestants this year are former University of Virginia star Jim Flippen, who is the No. 4 ranked amateur in the country by Golf Week; Scott Newton of UNC-Charlotte, who was second in the North and South; Billy Bennett of Sam Houston State, a winner of two collegiate tournaments this year; and Virginia Commonwealth's John Rollins, the CAA champion. Local players competing include former champion J. P. Leigh, Curtis Deal, Troy Ferris, Jay Fisher, Billy Judah, Conlin Giles and Jay Rickles.
``This year we sent out letters to over 500 top amateur players across the country,'' Hill said. ``As a result of that effort, we believe we have the best field in years. We have 20 college players who won all-conference honors. And we have players from the national championship teams in both NCAA Division II and the NIAA.''
The Eastern field will be completed with the addition of the 12 lowest scorers in the First Flight tournament, a 36-hole preliminary to the Eastern on July 8-9. by CNB