Ayrshire-based amateur legend Peter McEvoy passes away after illness

Ayrshire-based Peter McEvoy, one of golf’s legendary amateurs and a winning Walker Cup captain at Nairn in 1999, has passed away aged 72 after battling illness in recent years.

Though born in London, McEvoy was brought up in Renfrewshire, where his father worked as a doctor, and swung a golf club for the first time at Gourock Golf Club.

His family moved to the West Midlands when he was ten and, aged 13, McEvoy joined Copt Heath Golf Club near Solihull, becoming an honorary member.

Peter McEvoy pictured during the Jacques Leglise Trophy at the Castelconturbia Golf Course in Italy in 2010 | Ian Walton/Getty Images

After making his mark at local level, McEvoy gained national prominence when he won The Amateur Championship in both 1977 at Ganton and 1978 at Royal Troon.

The last player to successfully defend the coveted crown, he joined Horace Hutchinson (1886-87), Harold Hilton (1900-01) Lawson Little (1934-35) and Sir Michael Bonallack (1968-69-70) in achieving that feat.

McEvoy reached the final again in 1987 at Prestwick but lost on that occasion to Welshman Paul Mayo.

He was a member of the Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup team on five occasions, ending up on the losing side in the first four before tasting victory at Peachtree in 1989.

Ten years later, he captained a GB&I side that included both Luke Donald and Paul Casey to a 15-9 win over the Americans at Nairn.

He was the leading amateur in The Open in both 1978 and 1979 and played in The Masters on three occasions, becoming just the second GB&I amateur to make the cut after Joe Carr in 1978.

Mark Darbon, chief executive of The R&A, said, “We have lost one of amateur golf’s most respected figures with the passing of Peter McEvoy.

“Peter was an outstanding amateur golfer and enjoyed an illustrious career, including his two victories in The Amateur Championship and success in the Walker Cup. He also worked so hard to develop the game as an administrator and help provide opportunities for aspiring players.

“Peter was dedicated to the amateur game, choosing not to turn professional, and will be widely missed across the golf world. On behalf of The R&A and The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, I would like to offer our deepest condolences to Peter’s family at this sad time."

McEvoy, who had moved to Alloway, just 20 minutes from Royal Troon, where he was an honorary member, is survived by his wife Helen and their children Cameron, Richie, Douglas and Mary.