Goat Hill Park celebrates new Evans Scholarship recipient

Loren Ishmael Guerra becomes third caddie from Goat Hill Park to receive Evans Scholarship

GLENVIEW, Ill. — A student caddie from Goat Hill Park Golf Club in Oceanside, California, has been awarded the Evans Scholarship, a full housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies, following a selection meeting interview held in December.

Loren Ishmael Guerra of Oceanside, California, will begin college next fall as an Evans Scholar. He will enroll at one of the Evans Scholars Program’s 28 partner universities nationwide, with his final school placement to be determined this spring. 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.

Guerra, a senior at San Marcos High School, is the third caddie from Goat Hill Park to earn the Evans Scholarship. Twins Ada and Annabelle Lee, current sophomores at the University of Washington, were the first two recipients.

As the Evans Scholars Program continues to expand nationwide, more students from areas including Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego, are gaining access to the opportunity to caddie and potentially earn a full college scholarship.

“Caddying at Goat Hill has taught me how to lead by example and connect with people from all walks of life,” Guerra says. “The experiences I’ve had on the course have helped shape who I am and inspired me to work hard toward my goal of making a positive impact in my community.”

Currently, a record 1,260 caddies are enrolled at 27 universities across the country as Evans Scholars. More than 12,575 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since the Program was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr. in 1930.

“When we established the caddie program at Goat Hill Park, our goal was to create meaningful opportunities for young people at a public course,” said John Ashworth, caretaker of Goat Hill Park. “Seeing Loren earn the Evans Scholarship is a powerful example of what can happen when access, mentorship and hard work come together. We’re incredibly proud of him and excited for what this means for the future of our program.”

Selection meeting interviews will continue nationwide through spring. By the end of the 2025-26 selection process, an estimated 380 caddies from across the country are expected to receive 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 96 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 43,500 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 2026, the BMW Championship will be held at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, Missouri, from Aug. 18-23.