Record number of scholarships awarded to student caddies

ESF awards 325 Evans Scholarships to students from across the country

GLENVIEW, Ill. – This year, a record 325 students from across the country have been awarded the Evans Scholarship, a prestigious full housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies.

Each caddie has a unique story that reflects the scholarship’s four selection criteria: a strong caddie record, excellent academics, demonstrated financial need and outstanding character. A complete list of winners can be found on the attached document.

Recipients were interviewed at one of more than 20 selection meetings across the country from December through March. They will begin college as Evans Scholars this fall, attending one of 24 leading universities across the nation, including two new partner schools – the University of Iowa and Howard University. The Evans Scholarship is valued at more than $125,000 over four years.

“Each of these students has demonstrated excellence in the classroom, on the golf course and in their communities,” said Joe Desch, chairman of the Western Golf Association, which oversees the Evans Scholars Foundation. “We are thrilled for them to join the Evans Scholars community.”

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 leading 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.

“These young students represent what our Program has been about since it was founded in 1930,” 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 more than 36,000 supporters across the country, who are members of the Evans Scholars Par Club program. Evans Scholars Alumni donate more than $14 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.