Students will attend the University of Maryland and Penn State University

Glenview, Ill. – Two students from Palm Beach Gardens have been awarded the Evans Scholarship, a prestigious full housing and tuition grant offered to golf caddies, following a selection interview held Mar. 8.

Jacie Goodman caddied at Old Marsh Golf Club. She will begin college this fall at the University of Maryland in College Park, where she plans to study political science. She is currently a senior at Palm Beach Gardens High School.

“Caddying has played such a major role in my life, especially during the pandemic. I began caddying just as 2020 began, getting single bags on the weekends while I attended school during the week,” says Goodman. “One of the only things that was stable in my life during the pandemic was caddying and without it, I don’t know what I would’ve done. All of this dedicated time helped me improve as a caddie.”

Connor Noone caddied at Seminole Golf Club. He will begin college this fall at Penn State University in State College, where he plans to study professional golf management. He is currently a senior at Palm Beach Gardens High School.

“As a caddie, I've made relationships with members and other caddies that will last forever. I love going into work because you never know who you are going to caddy for,” says Noone. “Every person I've caddied for is amazing and different, and I really enjoy getting to know them and learning about what they did for a living.”

Evans Scholars are chosen based on showing a strong caddie record, excellent academics, financial need and outstanding character. The Evans Scholarship is valued at more than $120,000 over four years.

“Jacie and Connor epitomize what our Program has been about since its creation in 1930,” said WGA Chairman Joe Desch. “Their dedication, hard work and sacrifice is humbling, and we are honored to be able to help them pursue their dreams.”

With selection interviews now complete, more than 315 caddies across the country have been awarded the Evans Scholarship.

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

Currently, a record 1,070 caddies are enrolled at 21 universities across the nation as Evans Scholars, and more than 11,500 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since the program was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr.

“These young students have shown excellence in the classroom, in their communities and on the golf course,” said WGA President and CEO John Kaczkowski. “We are proud to welcome them to the Evans Scholars family.”

Scholarship funds come mostly from contributions by nearly 35,000 supporters across the country, who are members of the Evans Scholars Par Club program. Evans Scholars Alumni donate more than $17 million annually, and all proceeds from the BMW Championship, the penultimate PGA TOUR Playoff event in the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup competition, are donated to the Evans Scholars Foundation. In 2022, the BMW Championship will be held at Wilmington Country Club in Wilmington, Delaware, from Aug. 16-21.