New Scholars will begin school this fall

GLENVIEW, Ill. – Fifteen students from the state of Colorado have been awarded the Evans Scholarship — a full housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies — following selection meeting interviews held at Denver Country Club on Jan. 14 and 15.

The students will begin college in the fall of 2026 as Evans Scholars, with most expected to attend the University of Colorado in Boulder. Final university placements will be determined this spring. The Evans Scholarship is valued at more than $125,000 over four years. A full list of recipients is included below.

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, 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.

“These students exemplify the dedication, perseverance and character that define an Evans Scholar,” said Todd Gervasini, a WGA Director and Colorado State Chair. “Colorado’s caddie programs continue to create remarkable opportunities for young people, and we’re proud to support these students as they take this next step toward a college education.”

Currently, a record 1,260 caddies are enrolled at 27 universities across the country as Evans Scholars, including 45 at the University of Colorado. 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.

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

Shalom

Mathewos

Aurora

Sankaty Head GC (MA)

Grandview HS

Vanessa

Olivar Solares

Aurora

Denver CC

William Smith HS

Dylan

Johnston

Basalt

Roaring Fork Club

Basalt HS

Brooke

Fullerton

Carbondale

Roaring Fork Club

Roaring Fork HS

Javier

Hernandez

Carbondale

Roaring Fork Club

Basalt HS

Matthew

Harfert

Colorado Springs

Broadmoor GC

Coronado HS

Aria

King

Colorado Springs

Broadmoor GC

Cheyenne Mountain HS

Tristan

King

Colorado Springs

Broadmoor GC

Cheyenne Mountain HS

Vivian

Garcia

Denver

Denver CC

Forge Christian HS

Lucia

McCracken

Denver

Cherry Hills CC

Regis Jesuit HS

Levi

Wooldridge

Denver

Castle Pines GC

Mullen HS

Brandon

Bustillos Diaz

Holyoke

Ballyneal Golf & Hunt Club

Holyoke Senior HS

Jeffery

Armstrong

Parker

Meridian GC

Chaparral HS

Krew

Averett

Parker

Colorado GC

Lutheran HS

Mindzie

Madsen

Parker

Colorado GC

Lutheran HS