Four students from the state of New York have been awarded the Long Island Evans Scholarship, a full housing and tuition college scholarship for deserving caddies, following a selection interview held at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York, on Feb. 6.
The students will begin college this fall as Long Island Evans Scholars, attending one of the Program’s 24 partner universities nationwide. Decisions on awarded schools will be finalized by March 15. The scholarship is valued at more than $125,000 over four years. A list of winners can be found below.
The result of a partnership between the Western Golf Association’s (WGA) Evans Scholars Foundation and the Long Island Caddie Scholarship Fund, Long Island Evans Scholars are selected based on showing a strong caddie record, excellent academics, financial need and outstanding character. Candidates must meet the qualifications of both organizations to earn the scholarship.
The Western Golf Association, 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.
Currently, a record 1,130 caddies are enrolled at 24 universities nationwide as Evans Scholars. More than 12,040 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since the Program was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr. in 1930.
As the Evans Scholars Program continues to grow nationwide, more students from newer areas are being introduced to caddie and potentially earn a full college scholarship. Currently, there are eight Long Island Evans Scholars in school; a decade ago, there were three Long Island Evans Scholars in school.
Selection meeting interviews for Evans Scholar finalists will continue nationwide through spring. When the 2023-24 selection meeting process is complete, an estimated 340 caddies from across the country are expected to be awarded the Evans Scholarship.
“We are thrilled to welcome this new class to the Evans Scholars family,” said WGA Chairman Steve Colnitis. “Their dedication in the classroom, on the golf course and in their community represents what our Program has been about since 1930.”
"As partners, the Long Island Caddie Scholarship Fund and the Evans Scholarship Foundation are actively working together to provide opportunities within the local community,” says Michael Sullivan, president of the Long Island Caddie Scholarship Fund. “Our Scholars are both deserving and driven, and we are proud to be able to contribute to their bright futures."
Funds for the Evans Scholarship come mostly from contributions by more than 38,500 supporters across the country, who belong to 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 Program. This year, the BMW Championship will be held from Aug. 20-25 at Castle Pines Golf Club in the Denver area.
The 2027 BMW Championship will be played at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey, in August 2027. This will be the BMW Championship’s first visit to New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area and the event’s fifth stop on the East Coast since 2018. Since 2007, the BMW Championship has raised more than $50 million for caddie scholarships.
To learn more about the WGA and ESF, visit wgaesf.org. To learn more about the Long Island Caddie Scholarship Fund, visit longislandcaddiescholarship.org.
|
First Name |
Last Name |
Hometown |
Sponsoring Club |
High School |
|
Joseph |
Mayal |
Bethpage, NY |
Garden City Golf Club |
St. Anthony's High School |
|
Michael |
Poremba |
Hampton Bays, NY |
Shinnecock Hills Golf Club |
Hampton Bays High School |
|
Colin |
Lynch |
Riverhead, NY |
Friar's Head |
Riverhead High School |
|
Luke |
Richard |
Riverhead, NY |
Friar's Head |
Riverhead High School |
About the Long Island Caddie Scholarship Fund
The Long Island Caddie Scholarship Fund (LICSF) provides need-based financial assistance to deserving caddies and others who have worked in service to golf, assisting in the pursuit of a higher education. The LICSF was founded in 1962 by George Sands, a long-time member of North Shore CC and dedicated volunteer for the LICSF, MGA and USGA. Since then the LICSF has awarded just under 900 scholarships totaling more than $4.8 million.