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but grew in the 1890’s, while
serving as a caddie, lugging golf
bags around Edgewater Golf
Club in northern Chicago. He
learned the game looping and
aspired to attend Northwestern
University in Evanston. His
parents were not wealthy and
after just one year, Evans was
forced to drop out of school
and earn a living.
When he won the 1916 U.S.
Open Championship, he was
sought after for book deals
and
endorsements
based
on his golfing exploits, but
amateur rules prevented him
from personally accepting
any remuneration from those
endeavors. His mother first
suggested the idea to establish
a trust to put those monies
toward college scholarships
for needy young people, who
had grown up as caddies. She
knew how much not being
able to complete his university
ambitions had meant to her son
and these extra funds provided
an opportunity to help other
deserving young people.
Evans approached the Western
Golf Association (WGA) for
assistance with this effort and
in 1930, two students, Harold
Fink and Jim McGinnis, both
from the Chicago area, attended
Northwestern University as the
first Evans Scholars. From that
meager beginning nearly 100
years ago, the Evans Scholarship
program has grown to over
10,000 caddies receiving
degrees.
In the 2015-16 school year
alone, 910 young men and
women, caddies all, are
receiving full tuition and
housing at 19 universities
that have partnered with the
Western Golf Association.
Since 1930, total tuition and
housing expenditures exceed
$332 million.
The Evans Scholars program,
supported by the WGA, has
grown much larger than Chick
Evans could have imagined.
It’s 14 miles from Blissfield,
Michigan toHighlandMeadows
Golf Club in Sylvania, Ohio.
As a young man, Alan Sprunk
hitch-hiked from his home
in Blissfield to Highland
Meadows every summer day
to caddie. He credits the
Head Professional at the time,
Herman Lang, for getting him
started as a caddie. He was
awarded an Evans Scholarship
to attend Michigan State and
graduated in 1979. Like many
former Evans Scholar Alumni,
he stays actively involved in
Chick evans 1916 us am
and open trophies
NWO Golf Links