Four caddies from Sankaty Head Golf Club earn full college scholarships

Caddies will begin school as Evans Scholars this fall

GLENVIEW, Ill. – Four caddies from Sankaty Head Golf Club in Nantucket, Mass., have been awarded the Evans Scholarship – a prestigious full housing and tuition grant offered to golf caddies – following selection interviews held virtually on Dec. 13 and Dec. 19.

Harley Caceres, of New York City, Rocco Jones, of Chittenden, Vt., Dillon Madkins, of Chicago, Ill., and Tawanda Masiiwa, of Wellesley, Mass., will begin college in the fall of 2025 as Evans Scholars, with their awarded universities to be announced this spring. The Evans Scholarship is valued at more than $125,000 over four years.

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.

The Western Golf Association (WGA), headquartered in Glenview, Illinois, oversees the Evans Scholars Program. Recently recognized as the Scholarship Provider of the Year by the National Scholarship Providers Association, the Evans Scholars Foundation (ESF) is one of golf’s favorite charities and the nation’s largest scholarship program for caddies.

The newly awarded Evans Scholars 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.

“We are so proud of these four young men, who make outstanding caddies, and we look forward to seeing great things from them as Evans Scholars,” says Dave Hinman, director of the Sankaty Head Caddie Program. “The Sankaty Head Foundation greatly values its continued relationship with the Evans Scholars Program.”

Caceres is a senior at Cristo Rey New York High School in New York City. A first-generation college student, he plans to study business. “Camp Sankaty is a place filled with confident young men who taught me the power of a handshake,” he says. “Over three summers, I made hundreds of handshakes – some ordinary, others life-changing. Caddying gave me a voice and instilled in me the value of making sure I always get off to a good start.”

Jones is a senior at Killington Mountain School in Killington, Vt. A first-generation college student, he plans to study business. “Caddying has helped me develop strong character and independence,” he says. “As I gain important knowledge to create, build and eventually manage my own business in college, I aim to continue caddying to strengthen the connections I have now and create new ones.”

Madkins, a senior at Francis W. Parker School in Chicago, is interested in studying engineering. “In sixth grade, I’ve developed a love for math and science,” he says. “The opportunity to study at a university with a strong engineering program is a life-changing chance for me to expand my understanding of the world’s problems and how I can help solve them.”

Masiiwa, a senior at Belmont Hill School in Belmont, Mass., plans to major in economics. “My experiences at the Sankaty Head Caddie Camp provided me with important life lessons about self-confidence and self-acceptance, and helped me realize the value of discipline, effort and teamwork,” he says. “Living in a household with parents from Zimbabwe and South Africa established resilience. All are tools which will be useful in college as I discover new ways to make a difference.”

Currently, a record 1,190 caddies are enrolled at 24 universities across the country as Evans Scholars – including 15 from Sankaty Head. More than 12,285 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since the Program was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr. in 1930.

“Since our founding, our Program has changed the lives of caddies who have proven their dedication in the classroom, on the golf course and in their communities,” said WGA Chairman Steve Colnitis. “We are proud to welcome this exceptional group to the Evans Scholars family.

Evans Scholar selection meeting interviews will continue nationwide through the winter. When the 2024-25 selection meeting process is complete, an estimated 360 caddies from across the country are expected to be awarded the Evans Scholarship.

Evans Scholars have a cumulative GPA of 3.3 and a 98 percent graduation rate. An estimated 40 percent are first-generation college students, and 95 percent are employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduating.

Funds for the Evans Scholarship come mostly from contributions by more than 36,000 supporters across the country, who are members of 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 Evans Scholars Foundation. In 2025, the BMW Championship will be held at Caves Valley Golf Club near Baltimore, Maryland, from Aug. 12-17.