Will begin college this fall as Evans Scholar

GLENVIEW, Ill. – A student who caddied at Desert Forest Golf Club in Carefree, Arizona, has been awarded the Evans Scholarship, a prestigious full housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies, following an online selection interview held Feb. 25.

Evans Scholars are chosen based on showing a strong caddie record, excellent academics, financial need and outstanding character. The Evans Scholarship is valued at an estimated $120,000 over four years.

Evan Johnson of Glendale, Arizona, will begin college this fall as an Evans Scholar at the University of Kansas, where he plans to study sports management. He currently is a freshman at Grand Canyon University and will transfer after this school year.

“I have learned so much since I began caddying,” Johnson said, “from interpersonal communication with guests, fellow caddies and leaders, to leadership and coaching skills that have proven useful with my new caddie teammates. I cannot wait to see where this path takes me in the future.”

Desert Forest Head Golf Professional Brandon Rogers said Evan – the first caddie from the club to earn the Evans Scholarship – is more than deserving of the honor. “Evan always went above and beyond, asking for extra loops so he could qualify for the Evans Scholarship,” he said. “His award is fantastic news for both Evan’s family and for Desert Forest, and we hope this is a springboard to enhance our caddie program, both here and at other clubs in Arizona.”

“Evan epitomizes what our Program has been about since its creation in 1930,” said WGA Chairman Kevin Buggy. “His dedication, hard work and sacrifice is humbling, and we are honored to be able to help him pursue his dreams.”

The selection meeting held via Zoom was one of more than 20 such meetings the Evans Scholars Foundation is holding virtually across the country through the spring. When the 2020-21 selection meeting process is completed by April, 300 caddies nationwide 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 1,045 caddies are enrolled in 19 universities across the nation as Evans Scholars, and more than 11,320 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since the program was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr.

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 $15 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. In 2021, the BMW Championship will be held at Caves Valley Golf Club from Aug. 23-29.