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 |