THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 30, 1996 TAG: 9606280231
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, Currents Sports Editor
LENGTH: 55 lines
The second annual memorial scholarship award given by the Eastern Amateur will go to Heather Jeffries.
Jeffries, a recent graduate of Western Branch High School and a member of the golf team, will attend James Madison University.
Each year proceeds from the Eastern Amateur, scheduled July 11-14 at Elizabeth Manor, will help fund a $1,000 college scholarship for a graduating area high school golfer.
The presentation to Jeffries will be at the annual awards ceremony at the close of the four-day Eastern.
Jeffries, 18, has been a three-year starter on Western Branch's golf team. She was picked as the team's most valuable player in her junior year, alternating in the No. 1 and No. 2 positions.
A 10-handicapper, Heather began playing golf as a 13-year-old with her dad.
She won a $1,000 scholarship grant by winning the girls division of the Bobby Bowers Tournament in 1994. She also earned a $5,000 partial golf grant from James Madison.
Jeffries recently was second low net among 136 players in the Pepsi Women's Amateur in Salisbury, Md. Next up on her tournament calendar is the Payton Memorial in July in Virginia Beach.
Jeffries had a 3.9 classroom average and placed 21st among the 412 graduates at Western Branch. She scored 1,060 on her SAT.
This Eastern Amateur award recognizes those who have contributed to the success of the 40-year-old tournament.
``It was an easy selection,'' said award chairman Gene Luke. ``Heather had outstanding qualifications.''
This year's scholarship will be in memory of Lloyd Liebler, one of the most promising young golfers in Hampton Roads who died in 1971.
The initial scholarship given last year carried the name of the late Tom Strange, the first Eastern Amateur champion and a former professional at Elizabeth Manor. The award went to Churchland High School golfer Charles Padrick.
Liebler died of cancer at the age of 21. He was a member of the University of Georgia's Southeastern Conference championship golf team.
In 1965 he became the youngest finalist in the history of the U.S. Junior Championship. He tied for 11th in the 1969 U.S. Amateur.
Liebler, whose brother Steve is a two-time winner of the Eastern, won the Portsmouth City Amateur and the Payton Memorial. He was an Elizabeth Manor club champion and twice was a State Junior titlist. He was runner-up in the 1970 Virginia Beach Amateur. He finished fourth in the 1966 Eastern at the age of 16. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
Heather Jeffries will use her scholarhip at James Madison
University. by CNB