New Scholars will begin school this fall

GLENVIEW, Ill. – A group of 29 caddies from the state of Michigan have been awarded the Evans Scholarship – a full housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies – following selection meeting interviews held at Western Golf & Country Club in Redford, Michigan, on Jan. 6 and 7.

To qualify for the Evans Scholarship, students must meet the Program’s four selection criteria, demonstrating a strong caddie record, excellent academics, financial need, and outstanding character.

They will begin college in the fall of 2026 as Evans Scholars, with most to attend the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor or Michigan State University in East Lansing. Their awarded schools will be finalized this spring. The Evans Scholarship is valued at more than $125,000 over four years. Recipients are listed below.

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.

Currently, a record 1,260 caddies are enrolled at 27 universities across the country as Evans Scholars, including 86 at Michigan State and 55 at Michigan. 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.

“These students exemplify the work ethic, integrity, and commitment that define the Evans Scholarship,” said Mark Bond, a WGA Director and the Michigan State Chair. “Michigan’s golf community continues to expand youth caddie opportunities, and we’re proud to support these young men and women as they take this next step.”

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.

Below is a full list of recent winners with awarded universities to be finalized by spring.

 

First Name    

Last Name

Hometown

Sponsoring Club

High School

Ryan

Ni

Auburn Hills

Great Oaks CC

Rochester Adams HS

Evan

Lefevre

Bath

CC of Lansing

Laingsburg HS

Matthew

Withrow

Benton Harbor

Point O' Woods Golf & CC

Saint Joseph HS

Kevin

Jariett

Canton

Meadowbrook CC

Canton HS

Elyse

Miller

Clarkston

Oakland Hills CC

Clarkston HS

Harmoni

Erving-Spencer

Detroit

CC of Detroit

Cass Technical HS

Bradley

Allen

Eastpointe

Detroit GC

East Detroit HS

Cody

Prested

Farmington

Plum Hollow CC

Farmington HS

Kruz

Kruszka

Fenton

Warwick Hills Golf & CC

Hartland HS

Joseph

Fletcher

Ferndale

Detroit GC

Ferndale HS

Ella

Newbold

Frankfort

Crystal Downs CC

Frankfort HS

Brody

Campbell

Grand Blanc

Warwick Hills Golf & CC

Powers Catholic HS

Shelby

McMillan

Grosse Pointe Farms

Lochmoor Club

Grosse Pointe South HS

Cameron

Kosel

Grosse Pointe Woods

Lochmoor Club

Grosse Pointe North HS

Jean-Paul

Shemmai

Grosse Pointe Woods

Lochmoor Club

Grosse Pointe North HS

Luke

Leonhard

Grosse Pointe Woods

Lochmoor Club

Grosse Pointe North HS

Ryan

Novak

Harbor Springs

Wequetonsing GC

Harbor Springs HS

Samuel

Schlappi

Harbor Springs

Wequetonsing GC

Harbor Springs HS

Javen

Palmer

Jackson

CC of Jackson

Northwest HS

William

Winter

Lansing

CC of Lansing

Homeschool

Cameron

Nassar

Livonia

Western Golf & CC

Stevenson HS

Elijah

Baldwin

Livonia

Western Golf & CC

Stevenson HS

Cambria

Guenthardt

Muskegon

Wuskowhan PC

Oakridge HS

Diego

Olguin

Pontiac

Oakland Hills CC

Pontiac HS - International Technology Academy

Daniel

Vickers Jr.

Redford

Plum Hollow CC

Renaissance HS

Trevor

May

Rochester Hills

Great Oaks CC

Avondale HS

Henry

Hegdal

Troy

Red Run GC

Athens HS

Cor'ron

Claudin

Van Buren Township

Franklin Hills CC

Walled Lake Western HS

Cody

Koontz

West Bloomfield

Orchard Lake CC

West Bloomfield HS