DATE: Saturday, July 12, 1997               TAG: 9707120633

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C7   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: - JIM DUCIBELLA

DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH                        LENGTH:   44 lines

PLAYFUL CROWS ANOTHER REASON TO KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL

Eh-Eh and a half-dozen or so of his friends, Elizabeth Manor Golf & Country Club's ball-hawking crows, have officially entered the Eastern Amateur.

Eh-Eh, so nicknamed by the media during a press-day outing because of his distinctive cry, is the most active of the bunch. He grabbed Cameron Yancey's ball on the 10th green Friday and flew off with it.

During Wednesday's practice round, Eh-Eh victimized Bryan Jackson, swooping out of a tree to grab his ball and taking it who knows where.

During Thursday's opening round, Chris Schmid walked to his ball in the center of the fourth fairway, put down his bag and walked toward a sprinkler head to mark off his yardage. He turned back to see Eh-Eh flying down the fairway with it. The bird dropped it about 100 yards behind Schmid.

``All I did today was chase crows away from golf balls,'' said 10-year-old Carolyn Domme, who served as spotter on the 10th hole.

Thursday, Domme and her father, Andy, were sitting in the trees off the 15th hole when Eh-Eh landed nearby and dug a ball out of some pine straw. As he was about to fly off with the ball, Carolyn Domme shooed him away and grabbed the ball for herself.

Eh-Eh and friends showed up at Elizabeth Manor about two months ago. Since then, members have had ball after ball hijacked right before their eyes. The crows have stolen packages of crackers out of golf carts. Eh-Eh has flown off with the occasional gold watch left in a cart compartment.

During first-flight qualifying on Monday, WTKR-TV sportscaster John Castleberry hit a shot to the fringe of the 10th green. When he neared his ball, Eh-Eh had it in his mouth and was walking out of bounds. Golf rules entitle the player to replace his ball where it was before the crow, or whatever animal, moved it. There is no penalty.

Elizabeth Manor members may be annoyed by the intrusive bird, but they're taking it good-naturedly. They've even come up with a motto to fit the situation, playing off a popular advertising slogan.

``Titleist: Ball of the pros, ball of the crows.'' ILLUSTRATION: LAWRENCE JACKSON/The Virginian-Pilot

Elizabeth Manor Golf & Country Club's ball-hawking crows made

Friday's round interesting, hijacking ball after ball right before

the eyes of Eastern Amateur participants.

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