Twenty Ohio caddies to attend leading universities

GOLF, IL – Twenty Ohio students have been awarded the Evans Scholarship, a full housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies, following a final selection interview held at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio, on Jan. 17.

Each caddie has a unique story to tell, reflecting the scholarship’s four selection criteria: a strong caddie record; excellent academics; demonstrated financial need; and outstanding character. They will begin college in the fall of 2019 as Evans Scholars, with recipients awarded to Ohio State University in Columbus or Miami University in Oxford. The Evans Scholarship is valued at an estimated $120,000 over four years. Winners are listed below and organized by hometown.

“Each of these deserving Evans Scholars epitomizes what our Program has been about since its creation in 1930,” said WGA Chairman Frank Morley. “Their dedication, hard work and sacrifice is humbling, and we are honored to be able to help them pursue their dreams.”

The selection meeting at Scioto Country Club was one of more than 20 such meetings the Evans Scholars Foundation will hold across the country through the spring. When the 2018-19 selection meeting process is completed by April, an estimated 280 caddies are expected to be awarded the Evans Scholarship.

The Western Golf Association, headquartered in Golf, Illinois, has supported the Chick Evans Scholarship Program through the Evans Scholars Foundation since 1930. One of golf’s favorite charities, it is the nation’s largest scholarship program for caddies.

Currently, a record 985 caddies are enrolled in 18 universities across the nation as Evans Scholars, and more than 10,830 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since the program was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr.

“These young men and woman have shown excellence in the classroom and dedication and work ethic on the course,” says Sean O’Reilly, lead WGA Director in the state of Ohio. “I could not be more proud to welcome these New Scholars to the Evans Scholars family.”

Scholarship funds come mostly from contributions by 32,000 golfers across the country, who are members of the Evans Scholars Par Club program. Evans Scholars Alumni donate more than $10 million annually, and all proceeds from the BMW Championship, the third of four PGA TOUR Playoff events in the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup competition, are donated to the Evans Scholars Foundation.

Name City High School Sponsoring Club University
John Garry Cincinnati Walnut Hills HS Maketewah CC Ohio State
Patricia Grogan Cincinnati Seton HS Western Hills CC Miami
Andrew Gruenwald Cincinnati Roger Bacon HS Maketewah CC Ohio State
Daniel Lantz* Cincinnati St. Xavier HS Kenwood CC Miami
Mitchell Thornton Cincinnati Oak Hills HS Western Hills CC Ohio State
Jacob Wuebbolt Cincinnati Elder HS Western Hills CC Ohio State
Christopher West Kettering Kettering Fairmont HS Moraine CC Ohio State
Joseph Wittman Kettering Carroll HS Moraine CC Ohio State
Jeremy Cyncynatus Mayfield Heights Mayfield HS Mayfield Sand Ridge Club Miami
Nicholas McGuire Miamisburg Miamisburg HS Moraine CC Miami
Michael Swigart North Canton Jackson HS Brookside CC Ohio State
Nicholas Bowman Oakwood Oakwood HS Moraine CC Miami
Isaac Lambert Pickerington Pickerington HS North Scioto CC Ohio State
Johnathan Burks Rossford Central Catholic HS Inverness Club Ohio State
Michael Rapposelli Solon Solon HS Canterbury GC Ohio State
Andrew Hoppenjans Sylvania St. John's Jesuit HS Inverness Club Miami
Andrew Branson Tiffin Columbian HS Mohawk G&CC Miami
Edward Lui Toledo Sylvania Southview HS Sylvania CC Miami
Kyle Momenee Toledo St. John's Jesuit HS Toledo CC Ohio State
Nolan Westfall Westlake Westlake HS Westwood CC Ohio State

*Student will be a sophomore in fall of 2019