First student caddies from Goat Hill Park Golf Club awarded Evans Scholarships

New Evans Scholars will begin school this fall

GLENVIEW, Ill. – Twin sisters who caddied at Goat Hill Park Golf Club in Oceanside, California, have been awarded the Evans Scholarship — a full housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies — following a selection meeting interview held on Thursday, Dec. 21.

Ada and Anabelle Lee of Oceanside will begin college this fall as Evans Scholars. They’ll attend one of the Program’s 24 partner universities nationwide, with a decision on their awarded schools to be finalized by March 15. The Evans Scholarship is valued at more than $125,000 over four years.

The Western Golf Association (WGA), 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 1,130 caddies are enrolled at 24 leading universities nationwide as Evans Scholars, and more than 12,040 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since the Program was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr. in 1930.

To qualify for the Evans Scholarship, students must meet the Program’s four selection criteria and show a strong caddie record, excellent academics, demonstrated financial need and outstanding character.

The twins, who are seniors at Mission Vista High School, are the first caddies from the club to earn an Evans Scholarship. As the Evans Scholars Program continues to grow nationwide, more students from newer areas, including Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego, are being introduced to the opportunity to caddie and potentially earn a full college scholarship. Currently, 22 caddies from the state of California are enrolled at universities as Evans Scholars.

Golf apparel entrepreneur and Goat Hill Park founder John Ashworth said they established a youth caddie program at the public coastal course several years ago after seeing the success of similar efforts in other areas, including Denver. “This incredible program has made a huge, positive difference in the lives of our kids and their families,” he said. “Now, our community is thrilled to have our very first two Evans Scholars from the Goat Hill Park Caddie and Leadership Academy! Ada and Annabelle are very deserving of this honor. They began as shy, awkward 13-year-olds and over the course of four years, they have become confident and compassionate young adults. We hope their trailblazing effort will pave the way for many more students to come.”

Ada and Annabelle’s parents are from Vietnam and immigrated to the United States before meeting one another. The twins, who also enjoy playing golf, began caddying in 2019. Ada plans to study industrial and product design and pursue a career in the golf industry. Annabelle plans to study mechanical engineering.

“Caddying has helped me turn into a strong, hardworking young woman who takes each loop as a learning opportunity,” Ada says. “Caddying for golfers who work in the golf industry has inspired me to also want to do the same.”

“Caddying helped me grow more optimistic and outgoing, as I immersed myself with my players and adapted to their mindsets to keep them striving for their best until the end,” Annabelle says. “Being in such a natural environment gave me comfort to be myself, which is why I consider my club to be a home away from home.”

Selection meeting interviews for Evans Scholar finalists will continue nationwide through spring. When the 2023-24 selection meeting process is complete, an estimated 340 caddies from across the country are expected to be awarded the Evans Scholarship.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ada and Annabelle to the Evans Scholars family,” said WGA Chairman Steve Colnitis. “Their dedication in the classroom, on the golf course and in their community represent what our Program has been about since 1930.”

Funds for the Scholarship come mostly from contributions by more than 36,000 golfers across the country, who belong to 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, benefit the Program. In 2024, the BMW Championship will be held from Aug. 20-25 at Castle Pines Golf Club in the Denver area.