Five student caddies from St. Louis area earn full college scholarships

New Evans Scholars will begin school this fall

GLENVIEW, Ill. – Five students from the St. Louis area have been awarded the Evans Scholarship – a full housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies – following a virtual selection meeting interview on Jan. 23.

They will begin college this fall as Evans Scholars, with most expected to attend the University of Missouri in Columbia. Decisions on awarded schools will be finalized by March 15. The Evans Scholarship is valued at more than $125,000 over four years. The full list of winners is below.

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.

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

Currently, a record 1,130 caddies are enrolled at 24 universities nationwide – including 42 at the University of Missouri – as Evans Scholars. 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.

“We are thrilled to welcome this new group of student caddies to the Evans Scholars family,” said WGA Chairman Steve Colnitis. “Their dedication in the classroom, on the golf course and in their communities represents what our Program has been about since 1930.”

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.

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.

In 2026, the BMW Championship will be held at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis. The club hosted the 2008 BMW Championship, when Camilo Villegas earned the first PGA TOUR victory of his career. Since 2007, the BMW Championship has raised more than $50 million for caddie scholarships.

*Awarded the Evans Scholarship for three years as they are currently a freshman in college.