Four caddies from New Jersey earn full college scholarships

New Jersey State Golf Association Evans Scholars will begin college this fall

GLENVIEW, Ill. – Four students from New Jersey have been awarded the New Jersey State Golf Association Evans Scholarship, a full housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies, following a final selection interview held Feb. 7.

The result of a partnership between the Western Golf Association’s Evans Scholars Foundation and the NJSGA’s Caddie Scholarship Foundation, NJSGA Evans Scholars are chosen based on displaying a strong caddie record, excellent academics, financial need and outstanding character. Candidates must meet the qualifications of both organizations to earn the scholarship. The list of winners is included below.

The students will begin college this fall as NJSGA Evans Scholars at leading universities across the nation, with most planning to attend Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The Evans Scholarship is valued at more than $125,000 over four years. There are currently 16 NJSGA Evans Scholars in school this year.

“The partnership between the NJSGA CSF and the WGA ESF is bearing fruit. Four exceptional individuals that have been caddying in New Jersey will receive a full scholarship and a first-class education. We are proud to grow the number of New Jersey caddie scholars, including attendees of Rutgers University,” said NJSGA President Michael McFadden.

Evans Scholars selection meeting interviews will continue nationwide through the spring. When the 2022-23 selection meeting process is complete, an estimated 325 caddies are expected to be awarded the Evans Scholarship.

“Our NJSGA Evans Scholars have demonstrated excellence in the classroom, on the golf course and in their communities,” said WGA Chairman Joe Desch. “We are thrilled for them to join an exceptional class of newly awarded Evans Scholars from across the nation.”

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 1,100 caddies are enrolled at 22 universities across the nation as Evans Scholars, and more than 11,800 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since the program was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr.

Scholarship funds come mostly from contributions by more than 36,000 supporters across the country, who are members of the Evans Scholars Par Club program. Evans Scholars Alumni donate more than $15 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 2023, the BMW Championship will be held at Olympia Fields Country Club in Illinois, from Aug. 17-20.

Listed below are the newly awarded NJSGA Evans Scholars.