Platt Evans Scholar will begin college this fall

GLENVIEW, Ill. – A student from the Philadelphia area was recently named a recipient of the Platt Evans Scholarship, a full housing and tuition college grant awarded to golf caddies, following a selection meeting held on Feb. 8.

Robbie Starankovic III of Havertown, Pennsylvania, is a senior at Haverford High School and caddies at Llanerch Country Club. He will begin college this fall as a Platt Evans Scholar at Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania, where he plans to study engineering.

The result of a partnership between the Western Golf Association’s Evans Scholars Foundation and the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust, Platt Evans Scholars are chosen based on showing a strong caddie record, excellent academics, demonstrated financial need and outstanding character.

This marks the 10th year of the partnership between the ESF and the J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust.

“Robbie has demonstrated excellence in the classroom, on the golf course and in his community,” said WGA Chairman Joe Desch. “We are thrilled for him to join an exceptional class of newly awarded Evans Scholars from across the nation.”

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.

“We are incredibly proud of our Platt Evans partnership that serves many hardworking caddies pursue their educational goals,” said Tina Gregor, Chairwoman of J. Wood Platt. “It is inspiring to witness the drive and determination of our Platt Evans Scholars and we are honored to help them reach their dreams.”

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.