Golf News: - Posted 19th March 1998

McEvoy to captain GB & Ireland

Peter McEvoy, who is the most successful British amateur golfer of the last 25 years, is to succeed Clive Brown as Great Britain and Ireland captain.

McEvoy, twice British champion and the most capped England player of all time, takes over in the wake of the second-biggest defeat in Walker Cup history, an 18-6 hammering in New York last August.

The 44-year-old - he is 45 this Sunday - has been appointed for the match against the Continent of Europe in Italy on 28th - 29th August and the Eisenhower Trophy world team championship in Chile on 19th - 22nd November.

But he is also likely to be in charge for the next two Walker Cup matches, the first of which is at Nairn next year.

"We are delighted he has accepted the position and are certain that the qualities he showed in leading England will bring further success," said chairman of selectors George Macgregor.

McEvoy was England's captain when they won the home internationals for the last five years.

His first duty as Great Britain and Ireland captain will be at a squad training session at Little Aston on 6th- 7th April, where the players will receive coaching from former Walker and Ryder Cup player Peter Townsend and diet, fitness and performance enhancement advice from expert Will James.

Macgregor said: "This will probably be the only opportunity we have of meeting before the Eisenhower Trophy team is selected at the home internationals in September.

"It is therefore essential that we quickly generate team spirit and make the new players feel part of the squad."

McEvoy remains the only British amateur to have survived the halfway cut in the US Masters - he did that in 1978 - and 10 years ago won individual honours as Britain and Ireland lifted the Eisenhower Trophy for only the third time. He also played in five Walker Cups.

The training squad includes four survivors of last year's beaten team - Hampshire's 17-year-old Justin Rose, Gary Wolstenholme and Scots Craig Watson and Graham Rankin.

Dublin undertaker Jody Fanagan, who played with Wolstenholme and Rankin in the victory over the Americans at Porthcawl three years ago, is also named.

Squad: L Donald (Beaconsfield), J Donaldson (Macclesfield), R Duck (Northants County), D Dunne (County Sligo), J Fanagan (Milltown), G Fox (West Kilbride), N Fox (Portmarnock), K Karney (County Sligo), L Kelly (Cowal), B Omelia (Newlands), D Patrick (Mortonhall), M Pilkington (Phllheli), R Price (St Andrews), G Rankin (Palacerigg), J Rose (North Hants), P Rowe (West Cornwall), A Wainwright (Garforth), C Watson (East Renfrewshire), G Wolstenholme (Kilworth Springs).