SELBORNE Salver organiser Mike Cave has paid tribute to Peter McEvoy, the first ever winner of the Hampshire Salver, who passed away earlier this week at the age of 72.
McEvoy is also the only player to have won the Selborne Salver twice in its 50-year history and alongside Sir Michael Bonallack, lays claim to being arguably England’s finest amateur golfer.
McEvoy won the Amateur Championship back-to-back in the late 1970s, earning that precious invite to play in the following year’s Augusta Masters both times.
And he remains the only amateur to have made the cut at Augusta, back in 1978. His victories at Ganton in 1977 and at Royal Troon a year later also earned him automatic entries into The Open Championship for those years.
He won the R&A’s Silver Medal in both those appearances – at St Andrews and Royal Lytham respectively, where Jack Nicklaus and Seve Ballesteros claimed the Claret Jug and stood alongside McEvoy at the presentation.
But McEvoy, who was invited to play a third Masters in 1980, decided, having just qualified as a solicitor, that he still might not be good enough to earn a living as a European Tour player, and remained an amateur throughout the 1980s.
Mr Cave, who has been involved in Hampshire Golf for more than five decades, said: “We are very lucky to have witnessed many of the game’s greats play at Blackmoor in the Selborne Salver, over the last 50 years.
“Peter McEvoy is a name that still resonates at Blackmoor, where, in 1979-80, he became the first and still only man to win and defend the Selborne Salver.
“That was in his very pomp as a player, having won the Amateur Championship twice in a row the year before,” and seeing him here was one of my favourite memories after a liftetime playing the game, and being part of the Blackmoor team that organises the Selborne Salver for many years.
“Old hands still talk about Peter’s ’29 home’ in the first of those Salver wins, when he held off the mighty challenge of Royal Mid-Surrey’s John Davies.
“He birdied five of the last nine holes for a 67 and a then record 136 total. Incredible golf. They were both giants of the amateur game.”
McEvoy, who shared the Brabazon Trophy at the English Amateur Strokeplay Championship with a young Ronan Rafferty in 1980, was renowned for his long, straight driving, beautifully controlled approach shots, and impeccable putting.
He made his Walker Cup debut against America in 1977, playing five times in total, including Great Britain and Ireland’s first ever win away from home since the competition was founded in the 1920s, when they beat the USA at Peachtree GC, in 1989.
Peter also played for GB&I in the Eisenhower Trophy at the World Amateur Team Championship five times, winning the individual title as the team triumphed in Sweden in 1988.
Having also played a record number times for England, surpassing Sir Michael Bonallack’s record, he went on to captain both England in the Home Internationals and GB&I twice in the Walker Cup.
Having beaten America at Nairn, in Scotland with a strong side featuring Paul Casey and Luke Donald as an unbeaten pairing in 1999, McEvoy led the holders to just their second win Stateside two. years later.
That team contained Donald, future US Open winner Graeme McDowell, and future European Tour winners Nick Dougherty, Marc Warren and Richard McEvoy.
McEvoy was full of praise for what he called at the time, “the best team that’s ever represented Great Britain and Ireland”. McEvoy also enjoyed success as GB&I Captain at the Eisenhower Trophy in Chile in 1998.
The timing of McEvoy’s passing could not have been choreographed with Blackmoor having to step up to fill the gap after North Hants’ course improvements meant they were unable to stage the Hampshire Hog this weekend.
To preserve the 72-hole Hampshire Salver competition, which attracts prestigious World Amateur Golf Ranking Points, Blackmoor agreed to stage a second 36-hole compeition – the Blackmoor Salver – which will precede the Selborne Salver, which remains in its traditional Saturday slot.
“When North Hants said they could not complete their course renovations with certainty in time for the Hog, we felt having already lost two years because of COVID, we wanted to keep the weekend as a 72-hole event.
“The two tournaments are an important marker in the English amateur calendar, and down the years spectators have been able to watch many of the up-coming stars of the European Tour, and even Ryder Cup stars of the future.
“By adding the Blackmoor Salver on the Friday, we can still offer a WAGR event, and retain the Hampshire Salver for the 72-hole winner. While fewer golfers are travelling from other counties, it has opened more spaces for the county’s top players to compete.
“It would be great to see a Hampshire winner to match the achievements of past home-grown champions Ian Gray, Mark Treleaven, James Knight, Ryan Henley, Mark Thistleton and Blackmoor’s own Mark Burgess by lifting the famous Salver on the Saturday.
“Our par-69 course demands accurate and strategic play from the tee, and iron play of the highest quality.
“When you look at the names on the trophy like Matt Fitzpatrick, Andy Sullivan, Ross Fisher and Gordon Brand Jnr, who have won all around the world, and great amateur legends like Gary Wolstenholme and Peter McEvoy, whoever wins this weekend, will have to display some of those qualities.
“With four rounds back-to-back on the same course, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that one player gets a hot putter for 48 hours, and ends up claiming all three trophies.
“Andy Sullivan shot 60 in his first round in 2011 – nine-under par – to smash the course record. People who have been coming to Blackmoor for years had never seen a round like it.”
Andy Sullivan won the Hampshire Salver in 2010 and 2011 – pictured with Hampshire Hog winner Laurie Canter, who is making his Masters debut at Augusta this week. Picture by ANDREW GRIFFIN / AMG PICTURES
McEvoy was a long-time member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and continued to work closely with The R&A as Chairman of the Selection Committee after his playing career finished.
He also managed the GB&I Jacques Léglise Trophy team.
In 1978 he received the Association of Golf Writers’ Trophy for his contribution to European golf that year, before being awarded an OBE in 2003 for his services to the sport.
In 2009 he received the prestigious Association of Golf Writers’ Award for his outstanding services to the game. He also became involved in golf course design.
In 2018 he was the guest of honour at the Hampshire Hog dinner which is traditionally held the night before the Selborne Salver.
He spoke about his long career at the top of the game as both a player and administrator and told some very funny stories from his Walker Cup days about two-time Major winner Sandy Lyle, as well as his memories of playing in the Masters, and winning both the Hampshire Hog and Selborne Salver.
•Spectators are more than welcome to attend either day at the Blackmoor and Selborne Salvers. Entry and parking is free and the clubhouse and halfway hut is open to visitors for refreshments.
Two-time Selborne Salver winner Peter McEvoy (third right) with members of Blackmoor GC at the 2018 Hampshire Hog dinner. Picture by ANDREW GRIFFIN /AMG PICTURES