Caddie from Jackson Park Golf Course awarded full college scholarship

Becomes ninth caddie from Jackson Park to earn Evans Scholarship

GLENVIEW, IL – A caddie at Jackson Park Golf Course in Chicago, Illinois, has been awarded the Evans Scholarship — a full housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies — following a selection meeting interview on Thursday, Dec. 21.

Destiny Ndubuisi-Obi of Country Club Hills will begin college this fall as an Evans Scholar, attending one of the Program’s 24 partner universities nationwide. Decisions on awarded schools will 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.

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 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.

Ndubuisi-Obi and her four siblings, two of which who are also Evans Scholars, were raised by their single father, an immigrant from Nigeria. Ndubuisi-Obi, a first-generation college student, has been a caddie for three years.

“Like caddying, college is a place where I will learn from others, build connections and form lasting communities,” she says. “My favorite golfers have inspired me to attend a four-year college and study environmental science. I want to find ways to make our lives more sustainable and gain knowledge to work with top leaders to help aid in the fight for preserving our earth and its resources.”

Ndubuisi-Obi, a senior at Culver Academies in Culver, Indiana, is the ninth caddie from Jackson Park Golf Course to earn the Evans Scholarship.

“Being the most experienced caddie at Jackson Park this past year, Destiny embraced the leadership role to set an example for the rest of the new caddies,” says Spencer Groessl, director of caddie recruitment with the WGA. “Her commitment was on full display as she was a role model for her peers, and she helped set the bar high for the caddie program for years to come. We couldn’t be more proud to see her accomplish her goal of earning an Evans Scholarship.”

With the 2023-24 selection meeting process complete, 340 caddies from across the country have been awarded the Evans Scholarship.

“We are thrilled to welcome Destiny to the Evans Scholars family,” said WGA Chairman Steve Colnitis. “Her dedication in the classroom, on the golf course and in her community represents the best of what our Program has been about since 1930.”

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.