Although he narrowly failed to win a place in the starting line-up for the Open Championship, which began at Royal Lytham St Annes yesterday (Thursday), there's still plenty of top golfing action coming up for Thorpe Hall amateur star Richard McEvoy.

Next big event is the English Amateur Championship, which goes ahead at Saunton in North Devon from July 30 until August 4.

Another top date is the European Amateur Championship, but biggest of all of course comes next month in Georgia when McEvoy will enjoy every amateur golfer's dream when he tees-off as a proud member of the Great Britain team taking on the United States for the Walker Cup.

Talking of the Open qualifying, it was sad to see one-time Basildon favourite Bill Longmuir failing to get a place in the starting line-up.

It's 22 years now since Longmuir, once attached to Thorpe Hall, stormed home over the first nine in a record-equalling 29 shots on the first day when the Open was staged at Lytham on the Lancashire coast.

That Open saw Spanish sensation Severiano Ballesteros pulling off victory to start his incredible career in Majors - who's to say that he won't be followed by fellow countryman Sergio Garcia in 2001.

Splashing out - although Thorpe Hall star Richard McEvoy saw his hopes bunkered in the Open Championship qualifiers, he still has some top golfing dates to come this year, highlighted by a place in the Great Britain team battling against the United States in the Walker Cup.

Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.