Finalists interviewed at Hillcrest Country Club in Indianapolis
GLENVIEW, IL – Thirteen students from the state of Indiana have been awarded the Evans Scholarship, a full housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies, following a final selection interview held at Hillcrest Country Club in Indianapolis on Jan. 30.
Each caddie has a unique story, which reflects the scholarship’s four selection criteria: a strong caddie record; excellent academics; demonstrated financial need; and outstanding character.
They will begin college in the fall of 2020 as Evans Scholars, with most recipients awarded to Indiana University or Purdue University. The Evans Scholarship is valued at an estimated $120,000 over four years. Winners, listed below, are organized by hometown.
“Each of these deserving Evans Scholars epitomizes what our Program has been about since its creation in 1930,” said WGA Chairman Kevin Buggy. “Their dedication, hard work and sacrifice is humbling, and we are honored to be able to help them pursue their dreams.”
The selection meeting in Indiana was one of more than 20 such meetings the Evans Scholars Foundation will hold across the country through the spring. When the 2019-20 selection meeting process is completed by April, an estimated 285 caddies are expected to be awarded the Evans Scholarship.
The Western Golf Association, headquartered in Glenview, Illinois, has supported the Chick Evans Scholarship Program through the Evans Scholars Foundation since 1930. One of golf’s favorite charities, it is the nation’s largest scholarship program for caddies.
Currently, a record 1,010 caddies are enrolled in 18 universities across the nation as Evans Scholars, and more than 11,050 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since the program was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr.
“These young students have shown excellence in the classroom and in their communities, as well as on the golf course,” said John Kaczkowski, WGA President and CEO. “We welcome them to the Evans Scholars family.”
Scholarship funds come mostly from contributions by 32,500 golfers across the country, who are members of the Evans Scholars Par Club program. Evans Scholars Alumni donate more than $14 million annually, and all proceeds from the BMW Championship, the third of four PGA TOUR Playoff events in the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup competition, are donated to the Evans Scholars Foundation.
To learn more about the WGA and ESF, visit www.wgaesf.org. Listed below are the newly awarded recipients.
Name |
Sponsoring Club |
High School |
Hometown |
University |
Colby Stafford |
French Lick Resort |
Northeast Dubois HS |
Dubois |
Indiana |
Kyle Gabbard |
Meridian Hills CC |
Fishers HS |
Fishers |
Indiana |
Richard Hutchinson |
Meridian Hills CC |
Fishers HS |
Fishers |
Indiana |
Hayden Tippmann |
Fort Wayne CC |
R. Nelson Snider HS |
Fort Wayne |
Purdue |
Jackson Manning |
Hillcrest CC |
Lawrence Central HS |
Indianapolis |
Purdue |
Samuel Wadle |
Long Beach CC |
Marquette Catholic HS |
LaPorte |
Purdue |
Omar Serrano |
Long Beach CC |
Michigan City HS |
Michigan City |
Indiana |
Hunter Teichman |
Orchard Ridge CC |
Heritage Jr/Sr HS |
Monroeville |
Indiana |
Christian Clark |
Long Beach CC |
La Lumiere School |
New Buffalo |
Michigan |
Grayson Wittbrod |
Prairie View GC |
Noblesville HS |
Noblesville |
Purdue |
Cameron Hartsfield |
Briar Ridge CC |
Peotone HS |
Peotone |
Purdue |
Collin Novak |
Briar Ridge CC |
Peotone HS |
Peotone |
Purdue |
Austin Fleming |
Tippecanoe Lake CC |
Warsaw HS |
Warsaw |
Purdue |