Eight student caddies from New Jersey earn full college scholarships

New NJSGA Evans Scholars will begin school this fall

GLENVIEW, IL – Eight students from the state of New Jersey have been awarded the New Jersey State Golf Association Evans Scholarship, a full housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies, following a final selection interview held Feb. 6 at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield.

The result of a partnership between the Western Golf Association’s Evans Scholars Foundation and the NJSGA’s Caddie Scholarship Foundation, NJSGA Evans Scholars are chosen based on displaying a strong caddie record, excellent academics, financial need and outstanding character. Candidates must meet the qualifications of both organizations to earn the scholarship.

The students, whose names are listed below, will begin college this fall as NJSGA Evans Scholars at one of the Program’s 24 partner universities across the nation, with most expected to attend Rutgers University in New Brunswick. Decisions on awarded schools will be finalized by March 15. The scholarship is valued at more than $125,000 over four years. There are currently 17 NJSGA Evans Scholars in school this year.

"We are thrilled that eight exceptional individuals who have demonstrated excellence in the classroom, on the golf course and in their communities in New Jersey will receive a full scholarship and a first-class college education," said NJSGA President Rod McRae. "The blossoming partnership between the NJSGA CSF and the WGA ESF is evident in the growing number of deserving candidates we are able to award this prestigious scholarship to and is one we hope to expand upon for years to come."

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 1,130 caddies are enrolled at 24 universities across the nation 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.

As the Evans Scholars Program continues to grow nationwide, more students from the East Coast, including in New Jersey, are being offered an opportunity to caddie and potentially earn a full college scholarship. Through the WGA’s Caddie Scholar Prep effort, Program leaders are intentionally recruiting and mentoring qualified students across the state and introducing them to caddying at local clubs. 

Evans Scholars Selection Meeting interviews 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 this new group of student caddies to the Evans Scholars family, having worked in close partnership with NJSGA at some of the finest clubs in not just the state, but the entire country,” said WGA Chairman Steve Colnitis. “The students’ dedication in the classroom, on the golf course and in their communities represents what our Program has been about since 1930.”

Funds for the Scholarship come mostly from contributions by more than 38,500 supporters 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.

This year, the BMW Championship will be held from Aug. 20-25 at Castle Pines Golf Club in the Denver area. The BMW Championship has contributed $50 million to the Foundation since 2007, helping award full tuition and housing college scholarships to more than 3,300 caddies during that time. In 2027, the BMW Championship will be held at Liberty National Golf Course in Jersey City, with the club planning to launch a dedicated youth caddie program this year.

Listed below are the newly awarded NJSGA Evans Scholars.