Nearly 100 female golfers and youth caddies participate in seventh annual event
SKOKIE, IL – The seventh annual Women’s Invitational, presented by CIBC, took place July 11 at Evanston Golf Club in Skokie, Illinois, with nearly 100 female golfers and female youth caddies participating. It is the country’s only event to feature all-female players and caddies.
All proceeds from the Invitational benefit the Caddie Academy, a program that provides summer caddie opportunities to females who come from underprivileged areas. For seven weeks, participants live together and caddie each day at a partnering club along Chicago’s North Shore.
The event provides golfers a chance to directly engage with Caddie Academy students. Following a shotgun, players enjoyed a cocktail and appetizer reception to learn more about the Caddie Academy and Evans Scholars programs. Featured speakers included leaders from WGA, CIBC and the Caddie Academy.
Amy Yuhn of CIBC, a WGA corporate partner, announced that Ximena Zuleta is the recipient of their Endowed Named Evans Scholarship. Ximena, a Caddie Academy participant, will be attending the University of Michigan in the fall. She plans to study public health.
Starr Brooks, a Caddie Academy participant and newly awarded Evans Scholar, shared her story with golfers at the reception. She will be attending the University of Illinois in the fall. The night ended with a silent auction and raffle.
The Women’s Invitational Committee includes Kelly Epstein, Anne Baetz, Lauren Kaiser, Gina Lavorata-O-Hehir, Ellen McCarthy, Cyndi Millspaugh, Kim Schriver, Beth Shaw and Karin Tappendorf.