All proceeds from the black-tie affair support the Evans Scholarship

GLENVIEW, Ill. — The Western Golf Association (WGA) hosted its 15th annual Green Coat Gala presented by Peter Millar on Friday, Nov. 6, raising over $1.4 million to help send deserving caddies to college through the Evans Scholars Foundation (ESF).

More than 320 supporters attended the black-tie affair at The Peninsula Chicago. All proceeds support the Evans Scholarship, a prestigious full housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies.

The program was emceed by golf and travel correspondent Alexandra O’Laughlin and featured special guest Bernhard Langer.

Steve Sands, an Emmy award-winning broadcaster for NBC Sports and Golf Channel, held a fireside chat with Langer, where he reflected on how golf transformed his life, his career longevity and record-setting success on the senior tour.

“Caddying was my great introduction to the game of golf. I immediately fell in love with the game, started playing as a caddie and have enjoyed it very much ever since,” said Langer. “When I look back at my life, my history, coming from a village of 800 people in rural Bavaria, where golf was nothing, it almost seems unreal.”

Guests also heard from featured Evans Scholar Emmy Holt, a freshman at The Ohio State University who caddied at Losantiville Country Club in Cincinnati. In high school, Holt was her mother’s sole caretaker before she lost her battle with ALS.  

“Caddying and earning the Evans Scholarship has provided me with a sense of purpose, stability and hope during one of the most difficult times in my family’s life,” Holt said. “I knew I couldn’t lose sight of my dream to go to college.”

Currently, a record 1,310 Evans Scholars are enrolled at 28 universities across the country, and more than 12,870 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since the program was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr.

“For young men and women across the country, like Emmy, the opportunity to caddie can change the course of a lifetime,” said WGA Chairman Andy Langan. “Because of the dedication of our generous supporters, the success of this year’s Gala will help us create more transformative opportunities for young people through caddying and the Evans Scholarship.”

The 2026 Green Coat Gala event co-chairs were Tim and Stacey Cavanagh, Mike and Sharyl Mackey, Terry and Eileen McCann, and Mick and Karen O’Rourke.