Former British Boys' champion Alan Macgregor passes away

Alan Macgregor, a former British Boys’ champion and two-time runner-up in the Lothians Championship, has passed away.

Alan Macgregor, left, and Kel Nagle playing in the PGA Carling Tournament at Longniddry in 1961. Picture: JPI Media

The sad news was relayed to members of The Merchants of Edinburgh Golf Club, where Macgregor won the championship four times between 1954 and 1962 after joining the junior section in 1942.

His British Boys’ Championship victory was landed in the event’s first staging after the Second World War in 1946, beating England’s Donald Dunstan 7&5 in the final at Bruntsfield Links, where the field also included Peter Alliss.

As an amateur entrant, Macgregor was drawn to play alongside Australian Kel Nagle, who had won The Open the year before, in the PGA Carling Tournament at Longniddry in 1961.

Alan McGregor won The Merchants of Edinburgh Golf Club championship four times and was a life member of the capital club.

Macgregor had his two big runs in the Lothians Championship in 1959 and 1961, losing to A H H Campbell from Turnhouse the first time in the final then Campbell Brownlie of Craigmillar Park.

During a 15-year spell, he was a mainstay of the Merchants team, playing for the club in most Inter-Club tournaments and virtually every Lothians Team Tournament.

He was made a life member of the club in 1972 - a year after moving to St Andrews with his wife Vivien and their children, Julia, Richard, Jacqueline and Stuart.

“It is with regret that we have to announce the death of Alan F. D. Macgregor,” said a communication to Merchants’ members about his passing at the end of last month. “Our thoughts and sympathies are with the family and friends at this sad time.

“Alan's golfing record and the regard in which he is held have made him an outstanding member of The Merchants of Edinburgh Golf Club.”

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