26th August 2021

Olivia LEE from Gerrards Cross G.C. won The 40th Peter McEvoy Trophy at Copt Heath G.C. with a 273 (-11) total.

It was the first year that entry had been open to girls and three of them, all England Internationals, dominated the event from start to finish. It’s remarkable how easy golf can look when you hit fairways, find greens and putt smoothly which all three of them largely did throughout the two days.

Olivia Lee Receives The Peter McEvoy Trophy From Mr. McEvoy (Photo: GolfBible)

Lee shot a 67 in Round 3, finishing with two birdies on the 8th and 9th, to take a 5-shot lead on -12 into the afternoon final round.

Lottie WOAD and Davina XANH (-7), who recorded a 67 and 73 respectively in the morning, were to be her nearest challengers.

With Lee having never won a national title before it was unlikely to be a ceremonial procession in Round 4 and so it proved.

Lee started the final round well getting up and down for par from the front of the 1st green, picking up the expected birdie at the short par 5 2nd hole and nearly holing her tee shot on the 3rd. However, soon after she started to lose her distance control with her irons and putting, perhaps unsure whether to attack or defend with her big lead.

By the time she failed to get up and down out of a green side bunker on the 13th she was back to -9 and with Lottie Woad now sitting at -10 up ahead and with two holes left to play the title was well and truly back up in the air.

Olivia Lee’s Round 4 Scorecard (Graphic: Copt Heath GC / Intelligent Golf) 

Whilst Woad would par in comfortably the question was whether Lee could regain control of both her game and her inward emotions, in time to save the day. It should be noted Olivia played with a smile on her face and an impressively even temper.

A good birdie on the par 5 15th provided a positive initial answer as the Hertfordshire player moved back into a tie for the lead. A solid par on the 16th where an aggressive first putt left more work than she would have liked also provided encouragement for the task ahead.

However, on the 17th she pulled her tee shot between the two copse of trees on the left, partially blocking herself out. I am sure that in the same circumstances, with the Trophy on the line, 100% of the boys competing and probably most of the girls and spectators who were following the final group, would have attempted to draw a low recovery shot over the cross bunker and up the green. To the surprise of many Lee very conservatively chipped out 40 yards sideways back into the middle of the fairway. When her 75 yard pitch came up 20 feet short of the flag leaving a left to right severely up hill putt most observers feared the worse. A few minutes later when the putt was holed a huge cheer went up from the gallery as much in shock as admiration.

Olivia Lee’s Par Save on the 17th Hole (Video: GolfBible) 

Lee then found the 18th fairway and pitched onto the home green again around 20 feet over the pin. She had a putt to win The McEvoy. Amazingly, with Woad practicing her putting behind the green in anticipation of a play-off, she then rolled this one in as well.

Olivia Lee’s Birdie Putt on the 18th Hole (Video: GolfBible) 

It was a comeback under the pressure of competition and in front of a sizeable gallery that will live long in the memory.

Xanh, who had played so well on Day 1, couldn’t get the putts to drop today and finished third on -8, +1 for the final 36 holes.

Zach LITTLE (-7), Sam EASTERBROOK (-6) and Sebastian CAVE (-4) all finished strongly to secure the minor places.

McEvoy Trophy Results Extract (Graphic: Copt Heath GC / Intelligent Golf) 

(l-r) Sam Easterbrook, Zach Little, Sebastian Cave, Peter McEvoy, Olivia Lee, Lottie Woad and Davina Xanh (Photo: GolfBible)

Sebastian Cave won the Malcolm Reid Salver for the lowest aggregate score in the U18 Boys’ Carris Trophy and McEvoy Trophy. I think this may have been the first time this prize has been awarded at Copt Heath as normally the McEvoy is played in April, a few months ahead of the Carris.

Sebastian Cave with the Malcolm Reid Salver (Photo: GolfBible)

Finally, a quick note on Lottie Woad who shot a best of the day combined 8-under with a 66 and a 68 to make her friend Olivia Lee earn the win. The Round 3 66 was also the lowest round of the second day (shown below).

Lottie Woad’s Round 3 Scorecard (Graphic: Copt Heath GC / Intelligent Golf)  

Click here to view the – 2021 Peter McEvoy Trophy Results

ME.

_____________________________________________

25th August 2021

At the end of Day 1 Davina XANH leads the McEvoy Trophy on 133 (-9) after rounds of 64 and 69.

Her 7-under par first round 64 was the lowest round of the day. The putts didn’t drop as easily in the afternoon but with only a single bogey she was still able to post a very acceptable 69.

Davina Xanh Round 1 Scorecard (Graphic: Copt Heath GC / Intelligent Golf) 

A strong group of girls generally took advantage of a 5,455 yard set up which seemed to favour them a little over the boys who were playing Copt Heath’s full 6,541 yards.

Xanh’s England Girls international team mate Olivia LEE is in 2nd place on 134 (-8) which included a 65 and 69.

Lee’s morning 65 also included seven birdies but came with a single bogey. In the afternoon she briefly moved into the lead on -10 after three consecutive birdies on the 9th to 11th holes but bogeys on 13 and 17 meant she ultimately had to settle for a 69 too.

Olivia Lee Round 1 Scorecard (Graphic: Copt Heath GC / Intelligent Golf) 

Round 1 started at 6.45am with William McGhie from Lancaster G.C. hitting the opening tee shot. It was a cloudy day but remained dry throughout and with only a modest breeze blowing low scores were always going to be possible.

Sebastian CAVE and William GREEN both shot two 69’s for a 138 (-4) total and will start the final day 5-shots behind the leader.

Will COXON and Tom STEPHENS are a further shot back on 139 (-3).

13 players finished the day under par (see below) with a total of 41 players making the top 40 and ties cut which fell at +6.

McEvoy Trophy Day 1 Leading Scores (Graphic: Copt Heath GC / Intelligent Golf) 

ME.

_____________________________________________

24th August 2021

The 40th Peter McEvoy Trophy will be played on Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th August at Copt Heath Golf Club in Solihull, England.

I will be updating this article with the score links and daily reports during the week.

Copt Heath Golf Club (Photo: Copt Heath GC)

Competition Format

The McEvoy Trophy is a 72 hole scratch stroke play medal competition played over two consecutive days by boys, and for the first time this year girls, aged under 18 (before 1st January 2021).

The McEvoy is arguably the most prestigious Great British and Irish (GB&I) amateur event to adopt a mixed entry and competition to date.

Traditionally held in April each year the COVID-19 pandemic meant last year’s competition, which was also going to be open to girls, was cancelled and this year’s has been put back to August.

All competitors will play the first 36 holes on Day 1, playing in groups of three. The leading 40 players (and ties) then return for the final 36-holes on the following day, which is played in two-balls.

In the event of a tie the result will be decided by a ‘sudden death’ play-off, utilising holes 18, 1 and 9. The winner receives a small replica salver and a voucher.

All other places will be decided on the 72 hole total score with ties equally placed. Players finishing in 2nd-8th also normally receive a voucher.

The Peter McEvoy Trophy (Photo: GolfBible)

2021 Entries & Draw

A maximum of 84 players, 12 more than normal, was originally set by the organisers and despite initial entries easily exceeding that number a final field of 68 currently looks set to start the tournament; made up of 60 boys and 8 girls.

The playing of the Jacques Léglise Trophy (Europe v. GB&I U18 Boys match) in Sweden, the English Boys’ County Finals, the Faldo Series Wales Girls’ and Boys’ and the Ulster U18 Boys’ Open at Royal Portrush this week have inevitably impacted entries.

The handicap spread across the confirmed field is 0.1 to -5.5 indicating that a strong field will nevertheless still be gathering in Solihull.

On Day 1 all players will start from the 1st tee, which means Round 1 will commence at 6.54am and Round 2 at 11.54am, before a two tee start is adopted on Day 2.

Click here to view the McEvoy Trophy Day 1 Start Sheets

The players I expect to do well this week include (in alphabetical order):-

Hugh Adams (Hagley GC, England) – the 2018 U14 Reid Trophy winner has been playing steadily this year with top 10s in the Carris Trophy U18 (T8), McGregor Trophy U16 (T3), Scottish U16 Open (T8) and English Mixed U18 (T8). 

Joshua Berry (Doncaster GC, England) – an unbeaten performance at the Boys’ Home Internationals (P4 W4) a few weeks ago came on the back of a good set of 2021 results, McGregor Trophy U16 (2nd), Scottish U16 Open (T2), Lagonda Trophy (T10), Willett Salver (T11) and Cleveland Salver (T7).

Seb Cave (The Belfry, England) – has come through strongly this year and is Warwickshire’s No. 1 amateur. His 2021 results include R&A British Boys (Rd of 16), Warwickshire Boys U16 (Champion), Carris Trophy U18 (T17), England Golf Midlands Men’s County Qualifying (Medalist), Warwickshire Amateur (Champion) and England Golf Midlands Boys’ County Qualifying (Medalist). 

Matthew Dodd-Berry (Royal Liverpool GC, England) – perhaps his big breakthrough could come this week. 2021 results include R&A British Boys (SP T15), Faldo Series Midlands (T9), English Amateur (Rd of 32), Carris Trophy U18 (T4), Wilmslow Crow (T7), Cheshire Amateur (T9) and English Mixed U18 (T14).

Sam Easterbrook (Wishaw G&CC, England) – arrives on the back of winning the North of England U16 Open Amateur SP last week at Heswall and having got to the Rd of 16 in the English Amateur and winning the Scottish U16 Open Amateur Championship.

Jenson Forrester (Walsall GC, England) – having won the inaugural English Mixed U18 at Farnham earlier this year Jenson has also finished T8 at the Carris Trophy U18, won the Midland Boys Closed and finished T5 at the England Golf Midlands Boys’ County Qualifying.

Cormac Sharpe (Blairgowrie GC, Scotland) – there has never been a Scottish winner of the McEvoy but Cormac has every chance. This year he has played well in the Scottish Men’s Amateur (SP T4 / Rd of 16), Scottish Boys’ Amateur (3rd), East of Scotland Open Amateur (T4), ProDream USA Pollock Junior Masters (4th) and Stephen Gallacher Foundation Trophy (T2).

Lottie Woad (Farnham GC, England) – there are a number of impressive girls playing this year but Lottie is the best of the group. She finished 5th at the English Women’s SP Championship last week at Wallasey, was unbeaten at the R&A Girls’ Home Internationals (P6 W6), came 10th at the English Girls’ SP Championship, 1st at Sunningdale’s Critchley Astor Salver and 6th at the St Andrews St Rule Trophy earlier in 2021.

Few local players normally feature in The McEvoy but the West Midlands is well represented this year. Adams, Cave, Easterbrook and Forrester will all have the benefit of sleeping in their own beds and perhaps having played the course once or twice before.

Copt Heath Golf Club

Copt Heath Golf Club is the permanent home of The Peter McEvoy Trophy.

Copt Heath, despite its name, is essentially a parkland course. The current course was designed and built in 1913 by Harry Colt, the famous architect, and is predominantly flat but well protected with around 95 deep bunkers.

13th hole, Copt Heath Golf Club (Photo: Copt Heath GC)

The men’s white tee course measures 6,541 yards and has a par of 71, made up of 2 par 5’s, 13 par 4’s and 3 par 3’s. The front nine is shorter at 3,216 yards (par 35) but is tighter. The more expansive back nine is played over 3,325 yards (par 36).

The setting up of a course for a mixed event is a new challenge for tournament organisers, one made even harder in the first year of a tournament’s playing where there is no past scoring evidence to fall back on.

The girls will primarily be playing off the ladies red tees, save for shorter 7th and 16th holes, and a course measuring 5,455 yards. The par will also be a 71.

In modern parlance the boys and girls will both be playing a course with an identical handicap index of 72.3 and a Slope of 133.

Weather Forecast

The weather forecast looks very promising for both competition days – dry with a gentle breeze.

Wednesday 25th August – Light Cloud / Wind 8 mph NE / Temp. Min. 14°C, Max. 19°C.
Thursday 26th August – Sunny Intervals / Wind 11 mph N / Temp. Min. 11°C, Max. 19°C.

Competition Background

Legendary British Amateur golfer Peter McEvoy OBE has been a member of Copt Heath for 56 years. If you would like to learn more about his career then click this link for my profile – Peter McEvoy.

Following Peter’s Amateur Championship victories in 1977 and 1978 Copt Heath made him an honorary life member. He was also invited to suggest a way in which the Club could commemorate his achievements. He chose a 72 hole boys competition to be held annually at Copt Heath. It should be noted that Peter has been very keen to embrace the mixed format in recent years as this concept has taken off.

Peter McEvoy – 1977 Amateur Champion at Ganton GC

Starting in 1981, The Peter McEvoy Trophy was originally held during August. In 1985, at the request of the English Golf Union, it was moved to April, where it has stayed up until this year. This request was prompted by a wish for an early season national competition to assist the home nations with the selection of their teams ahead of the Boys Home Internationals and European Championships held later in the summer.

As Peter McEvoy’s playing achievements and influence grew, culminating with him becoming a Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I) boys’ and men’s selector and Jacques Léglise Trophy and Walker Cup captain, so has the prestige of the competition. Of course having a strong past winner’s list also adds to the gravitas. The McEvoy remains one of the leading British junior golf events to this day.

2019 Results

With the 2020 event cancelled due to COVID-19 the last playing of the McEvoy Trophy came in 2019.

Tom MCKIBBIN (IRL) won the 39th Peter McEvoy Trophy after chipping in for a birdie on the second sudden death play-off hole. Aaron MARSHALL (IRL) and Melan DHAUBHADEL (ENG), who also finished on 277 (-7), were his unlucky opponents back in April 2019.

Tom became the third Irish winner following in the recent footsteps of Gavin Moynihan (2012) and Mark Power (2016). Now a professional Tom would notably fly out to America to win the Sage Valley Invitational the following week after his Copt Heath triumph.

Tom McKibbin (Photo: GolfBible)

Click here to view the – 2019 McEvoy Trophy Results

ME.

________________________________________________

Past Winners

The Peter McEvoy Trophy has an enviable list of former winners, reflecting both the quality of the annual entry but also the fair challenge presented by the course for players of this age.

A number of the players in the full list of past winners below have gone on to play in the Walker Cup and many more have enjoyed successful professional careers: –

1981  Rob Sallis (Wollaton Park)
1982  Jeremy Robinson (Woodhall Spa)
1983  Peter Baker (Lilleshall)
1984  Wayne Henry (Redbourn)
1985  A Morley (Belton Park)
1986  Cameron Mitchell (Copt Heath)
1987  Wayne Henry (Porters Park)
1988  Peter Sefton (Camberley Heath)
1989  David Bathgate (Sandiway)
1990  Paul Sherman (Ashford)
1991  Lee Westwood (Worksop)

Lee Westwood with the McEvoy Trophy in 1991 (Photo: Copt Heath GC)

1992  Brian Davis (East Herts)
1993  Steve Webster (Atherstone)
1994  Jamie Harris (Nevill)
1995  Carl Duke (Porters Park)
1996  Mark Pilkington (Nefyn & District)
1997  Philip Rowe (West Cornwall)
1998  Justin Rose (North Hants)

Justin Rose with the McEvoy Trophy (Photo: Tom Ward / Copt Heath GC)

In 2013 Justin Rose became the first McEvoy Trophy winner to win a Major Championship, when he won the U.S. Open at Merion GC. He of course went on to also win Gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

1999  David Porter (Stoneham)
2000  Zane Scotland (Woodcote Park)
2001  Ben Harvey (Dudsbury)

Ben Harvey (Photo: Andy Windsor)

2002  Matthew Richardson (Pinner Hill)
2003  Tommy Hunter (Ilford)
2004  John Parry (Harrogate)
2005  Tom Sherreard (The Ridge)
2006  Luke Goddard (Hendon)

Luke Goddard (Photo: Tom Ward)

2007  Matt Haines (Rochester & Cobham Park)
2008  Stiggy Hodgson (Sunningdale)

Stiggy Hodgson (Photo: Tom Ward)

2009  Max Smith (Newbury Racecourse)

Max Smith (Photo: Tom Ward)

2010  Rhys Pugh (Vale of Glamorgan)

Rhys Pugh (Photo: Tom Ward)

2011  Nathan Kimsey (Woodhall Spa)

Nathan Kimsey (Photo: Tom Ward)

2012  Gavin Moynihan (The Island)

Gavin Moynihan (Photo: GolfBible)

2013  Bradley Moore (Kedleston Park)

Bradley Moore (Photo: GolfBible)

2014  Haydn McCullen (Delamere Forest)

Haydn McCullen (Photo: GolfBible)

2015  Marco Penge (Golf at Goodwood)

Marco Penge (Photo: GolfBible)

2016  Mark Power (Kilkenny)

Mark Power (Photo: GolfBible)

2017  Charlie Strickland (Ham Manor)

Charlie Strickland with Peter McEvoy (Photo: GolfBible)

2018  Harrison Arnold (Castle Royle)

Peter McEvoy with Harrison Arnold (Photo: GolfBible)

Peter McEvoy Trophy Records

Most Wins
2 Wayne Henry (1984 Redbourn / 1987 Porters Bar)

Wayne Henry pictured with Seve Ballesteros at the 1984 Open at St. Andrews

Youngest Winners
Wayne Henry 15 years [exact birthday not known] (1984)
Bradley Moore 15 years, 7 months and 15 days (2013)
Mark Power 15 years, 10 months and 6 days (2015)

Lowest 72-hole winning score
272 (-12) – John Parry 2004 (68, 68, 68, 68)
272 (-12) – Nathan Kimsey 2011 (69, 67, 69, 67)
272 (-12) – Marco Penge 2015 (65, 71, 70, 66)

Highest 72-hole winning score
300 – Jamie Harris 1994 (73, 75, 75, 77)

Lowest Day 1 opening 36 holes score
132 – Melan Dhaubhadel 68 64 (-10)
132 – Aaron Marshall 65 67 (-10)
133 – Jake Amos 68 65 (-9)

Lowest 18 hole score
61 – Dermot McElroy 2011 (Course Record)

Best McEvoy Trophy Record
Bradley Moore – 4th (283 -1, 2012), 1st (287 +3, 2013), 2nd (281 -3, 2014), 2nd (280 -4, 2015).

Notable Former Competitors

In addition to the winners listed above many other notable amateur and now professional golfers have competed over the years.

These include (in alphabetical order): – David Boote, Jamie Bower, Barclay Brown, James Byrne, Stuart Cage, Paul Casey, Ashley Chesters, Lee Corfield, Mark Crossfield (@4golfonline), Paul Cutler, Jack Davidson, Joe Dean, Nick Dougherty, Luke Donald, Bradley Dredge, Scott Drummond, Paul Dunne, Simon Dyson, Greg Eason, Jamie Elson, Harry Ellis, Oliver Farr, Kenneth Ferrie, Oliver Fisher, Angus Flanagan, Tommy Fleetwood, Mark Foster, Ewen Ferguson, Grant Forrest, Conor Gough, Scott Gregory, Harry Hall, Tyrrell Hatton, Calum Hill, David Horsey, David Howell, Jack Hume, Simon Hurd, Andrew Johnston, Ben Jones, Simon Khan, Nathan Kimsey, Matty Lamb, Tom Lewis, David Lynn, Nick Marsh, Jack McDonald, Dermot McElroy, Ross McGowan, Robert MacIntyre, John Morgan, James Morrison, Jimmy Mullen, Bradley Neil, Max Orrin, John Parry, Jim Payne, Eddie Pepperell, Van Phillips, Alfie Plant, Tom Plumb, Garrick Porteous, Iain Pyman, Robert Rock, Jamie Savage, Chris Selfridge, Jack Senior, Callum Shinkwin, Jack Singh Brar, Lee Slattery, Tom Sloman, Jordan Smith, Michael Stewart, James Sugrue, Andy Sullivan, Graeme Storm, Connor Syme, Ben Taylor, Jonathan Thomson, Ashton Turner, Euan Walker, Sam Walker, Anthony Wall, Danny Willett, Oliver Wilson, Tom Whitehouse and Chris Wood.

ME.

Copyright © 2014-2021, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.