Nine student caddies from Oregon awarded Evans Scholarships

New Scholars will begin school this fall

GLENVIEW, IL – Nine students from the state of Oregon – and one from Vancouver, Washington – have been awarded the Evans Scholarship, a full housing and tuition college scholarship offered to golf caddies, following a selection meeting interview at Portland Golf Club in Portland, Oregon, on Feb. 13.

The students will begin college this fall as Evans Scholars, attending one of the Program’s 24 partner universities nationwide. Decisions on awarded schools will be finalized by March 15, with most expected to attend the University of Oregon in Eugene. The Evans Scholarship is valued at more than $125,000 over four years. A full list of winners can be found 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.

Among the recipients is Carson Bates of Seaside. Bates, a senior at Seaside High School, is the first caddie from Gearhart Golf Links to be awarded the Evans Scholarship in 35 years. In recent years, club leaders have revitalized their youth caddie program, helping to create summer job opportunities for local youth.

“The past two years have been an incredibly rewarding experience for me,” he says. “Caddying has provided me with the opportunity to meet a diverse range of people, who I have formed strong and meaningful relationships with. As a pioneer with the new caddie program in Gearhart, I've learned valuable life lessons, from improving my social skills to developing leadership skills, as I guide and assist new caddies.”

Bates, who was ultimately adopted by his grandparents, will be a first-generation college student, where he plans to study history.

Currently, a record 1,130 caddies are enrolled at 24 universities nationwide – including 33 at the University of Oregon – 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 38,500 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.

A list of winners can be found below.