Roger Newsom wins 56th Eastern Amateur

Newsom wins 56th Eastern Amateur

PORTSMOUTH, Va. -- Roger Newsom, a 48-year-old ophthamologist from Virginia Beach, Va., used home-course knowledge to capture the 56th Eastern Amateur with a 16-under 264 total on July 15.

Newsom, who grew up next to Elizabeth Manor Golf & Country Club and is a longtime member, was keyed by an 8-under 62 in Round 2 in which he was 4 under on each nine. He shot 66-62-68-68 and won by four shots over three golfers: University of Richmond senior Nick Austin, University of Virginia senior Gregor Orlando and mid-amateur Adam Horton of Chesapeake, Va.

Newsom, who competed in the Eastern Am for the first time at age 13, said his familiarity with the course was a key in his second-round score. He had posted only two previous top-10 finishes at the event, including a tie for second in 2006.

"I played about as good as I could play. . . . I know this golf course better than anybody out here, even the groundskeeper," Newsom told The Virginian-Pilot newspaper. "I know every bump, every little place on this golf course. It's almost like cheating."