Finalists interviewed at The Minikahda Club in Minneapolis
GLENVIEW, IL – Ten students from the state of Minnesota have been awarded the Evans Scholarship, a full housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies, following a final selection interview held at The Minikahda Club in Minneapolis on Feb. 4.
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 recipients awarded to the University of Minnesota. 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 Minnesota 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.
Listed below are the newly awarded recipients.
Name |
Sponsoring Club |
High School |
Hometown |
Skyler Gish |
Interlachen CC |
Totino-Grace HS |
Andover |
Kolbe Lelemsis |
Minnesota Valley CC |
Chesterton Academy |
Bloomington |
Krew Barber |
Hazeltine National GC |
Chaska High School |
Chaska |
Jessica Pilon |
Golden Valley G&CC |
Chesterton Academy |
Crystal |
Ryan Schenck |
Hazeltine National GC |
Edina Highschool |
Eden Prairie |
Walker Schwappach* |
Interlachen CC |
Edina High School |
Edina |
Steven Kragseth |
Northland CC |
Hermantown Senior HS |
Hermantown |
Luke Sheldon |
Interlachen CC |
Hopkins High School |
Minnetonka |
Grant Hatteberg |
Midland Hills CC |
Roseville Area HS |
Roseville |
Molly Schottenbauer |
Northland CC |
Marshall School |
Superior |
*Graduated high school in 2019