Full college scholarships awarded to five Sankaty Head caddies

New Evans Scholars will begin school this fall

GLENVIEW, IL – Five caddies from Sankaty Head Golf Club in Nantucket, Massachusetts, have been awarded the Evans Scholarship, a prestigious full housing and tuition grant offered to golf caddies, leaders have announced.

The recipients will all 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. 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.

This year’s group of winners, who come from across the country, have taken part each summer for the past several years in a special youth caddie program operated at Sankaty Head Golf Club. Home to 60 caddies and staff members, the young men live in a structured camp environment and caddie each day for the golfers. Through their work, many go on to earn college scholarships, including the Evans Scholarship.

Isiahis Beauchamp, of Black River, New York, moved frequently growing up due to his father’s military career. Upon relocating to New York, he joined the caddie program to make friends. He intends to study public health in college.

“From the first time I visited Sankaty, the camp brotherhood was truly inspiring,” he says. “I fell in love with the craft of caddying – it afforded me so many memories and lessons beyond caddying and golf, helping me develop as a person.”

Andrew D’Souza, of North Palm Beach, Florida, grew up minutes down the road from Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, where he got his start caddying. In college, he hopes to study business.

“The experience was like no other,” he says. “The structured, disciplined environment at Sankaty Head helped me grow personally and provided a forum to discuss future goals and college guidance. Caddying everyday with my Sankaty brothers, and once again making connections and memories is truly a testament to how far caddying can and will take you if you work hard. Through the opportunities offered by Seminole and Sankaty, the most important door of all has been opened to me, a chance at a full scholarship.”

Nicholas Garcia, of Wyoming, Michigan, was introduced to the program through his local First Tee chapter. In college, he plans to study computer engineering.

“Caddying has helped me mature as a person, develop my understanding and love for golf as a whole, and learn to be independent while being hundreds of miles away from home,” he says.

Lapidoth Iyiola, of Atlanta, Georgia, immigrated from Nigeria with his parents and two siblings in 2018. He plans to study computer science in college.

“In Nigeria, I was always at the top of my class. After moving to the U.S., I found myself struggling to pass some classes,” he says. “Waking up early and learning work ethic in the caddie yard instilled discipline in me. With my newfound discipline, caddying and school became a lot easier.”

Kieran Moran, of Locust Valley, New York, discovered caddying when looking for a way to escape summers in his hometown. In college, he intends to study Mandarin, and economics or global affairs.

“As I caddied, my true self slowly emerged – one who would build on connections and take advantage of the opportunities at Sankaty,” he says. “Caddying, simply through the shared conversations and memories with members and my fellow caddies, has taught me how to be resilient, appreciative, adaptive, hardworking and supportive. I am proud of how far I’ve come from that insecure middle school kid.”

Currently, a record 1,130 caddies are enrolled at 24 universities nationwide – including 14 from Sankaty Head – as Evans Scholars. More than 12,040 caddies – including 15 from Sankaty Head – have graduated as Evans Scholars since the Program was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr. in 1930.

"We are so excited to have five of our caddies be awarded the Evans Scholarship in 2024,” says Dave Hinman, director of the Sankaty Head Caddie Program. “These five young men have done an outstanding job caddying at Sankaty Head and will continue the tradition set by our previous winners. The Sankaty Head Foundation so values the relationship with the Evans Scholars Program. We look forward to seeing great things from these Scholars."

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 this 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.”

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.