Eight student caddies from New Jersey earn full scholarships to college

New Evans Scholars will begin school this fall

GLENVIEW, Ill. – Eight student caddies from the state of New Jersey have been awarded the New Jersey Golf Evans Scholarship – a full housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies – following selection interviews held Feb. 4 at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J.

The result of a partnership between the Western Golf Association’s (WGA) Evans Scholars Foundation (ESF) and the New Jersey Golf Caddie Scholarship Foundation, NJ Golf 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 NJ Golf Evans Scholars at one of the Program’s 24 partner universities across the nation. Most are expected to attend Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J. Decisions on awarded schools will be announced this spring. The scholarship is valued at more than $125,000 over four years.

“As golf season approaches, there's no better time to award full tuition and housing scholarships to these eight deserving students and caddies through the New Jersey Golf partnership with the Evans Scholars Foundation,” said Rod McRae, President of the New Jersey Golf Caddie Scholarship Association. “These scholarships are transformational for the students and their families. Our relationship with the ESF continues to grow, and we look forward to helping more deserving caddies in New Jersey.”

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

Currently, a record 1,190 caddies are enrolled at 24 universities across the country as Evans Scholars – including 21 NJ Golf Evans Scholars. 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.

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

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.

“Our partnership continues to change the lives of young caddies from New Jersey 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 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, Md., from Aug. 12-17.

Listed below are the newly awarded NJ Golf Evans Scholars.