Five Student Caddies from N.J. earn full College Scholarships

Photo: 2019 NJSGA Evans Scholars

Five students from New Jersey have been awarded the New Jersey State Golf Association Evans Scholarship, a full housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies, following a final selection interview held Feb. 9.

The result of a partnership between the Western Golf Association’s Evans Scholars Foundation and the NJSGA’s Caddie Scholarship Foundation, NJSGA Evans Scholars are chosen based on displaying a strong caddie record, excellent academics, financial need and outstanding character. Candidates must meet the qualifications of both organizations in order to earn the scholarship.

The students will begin college this fall as NJSGA Evans Scholars at leading universities across the nation. The Evans Scholarship is valued at an estimated $120,000 over four years. Currently, there are 13 NJSGA Scholars in school.

“Our NJSGA Evans Scholars have shown dedication, hard work and sacrifice in order to earn this life-changing scholarship, and we are honored to help them pursue their dreams,” said WGA Chairman Kevin Buggy.

“We welcome these young caddies to the Evans Scholars family,” says Tom Paluck, a WGA Director, Evans Scholar Alum and a Trustee for the New Jersey State Golf Association Caddie Scholarship Foundation. “They have shown excellence in the classroom and in their communities, as well as on the golf course.”

The selection meeting was one of more than 20 such meetings the Evans Scholars Foundation will hold virtually nationwide through the spring. When the 2020-21 selection meeting process is completed by April, 300 caddies across the country 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. in 1930.

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, one of three 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.

Below is a list of this year’s award winners from the state of New Jersey.

• Michael Fluhr of Belmar and Saint Rose HS. Caddie at Spring Lake G.C., attending Ohio State University.
• Grayson Mejia of Chatham and Watchung Hills HS. Caddie at Canoe Brook C.C., attending Purdue University.
• Brandon Schacht of Cresskill and Bergen Catholic HS. Caddie at Alpine C.C., attending Ohio State University.
• Ashley DeAngelis of Toms River and Ocean County Vo-Tech HS. Caddie at Hollywood G.C., attending Ohio State University.
• Nicholas Xanthacos of Wall Township and Saint Rose HS. Caddie at Spring Lake G.C., attending Ohio State University.