McEVOY RETURNS AS ENGLAND CAPTAIN

Peter McEvoy, the most successful GB&I Walker Cup captain, is returning to the helm of English amateur golf. He has been re-appointed England captain in succession to Malcolm Lewis, who stepped down after the recent Home Internationals.

"I am very happy to accept captaincy of England for the year 2002," he said. "Many people have asked whether accepting this appointment means I am no longer interested in the Walker Cup. The answer is 'no', I would still love to be involved at Ganton in 2003. However, I was invited to captain England for their first appearance in the World Amateur Team Championships to be held in Malaysia next year.

"I would hate not to have been involved with this. I played for England for 17 years and captained them for six but England was never involved in the Eisenhower Trophy as participation was only through a GB & I team until now.

"Also, these are exciting times for English golf what with the appointment of Nigel Furniss as Performance Director and, the involvement of Sport England and its funding in the quest of excellence. It also co-incides with the creation of Golf England Limited, the new commercial arm of the EGU. This company, formed with Centrica and Advanced Wave gives hugely exciting new benefits to members and funding to the game."

McEvoy, also the most successful player in England colours, was captain from 1992 to 1997, steering England to five consecutive victories in the Home Internationals. Before that, he was first capped for his country in 1976 and when he retired from the international scene in 1992 had played 153 times.

This is still an English record as is his 103 victories and 111 points.