The Western Golf Association announced this week that five island caddies from Sankaty Head Golf Club have been awarded the Evans Scholarship, a prestigious full housing and tuition grant offered to golf caddies.
This year’s group of winners, who come from across the country, have taken part each summer for the past several years in a special youth caddie program operated at Sankaty Head Golf Club. Home to 60 caddies and staff members, the young men live in a structured camp environment and caddie each day for the golfers. Through their work, many go on to earn college scholarships, including the Evans Scholarship.
To qualify for the Evans Scholarship, each student must meet the Program’s four selection criteria: show a strong caddie record, excellent academics, demonstrated financial need, and outstanding character. Below are this year's recipients, as well as some background on each of them shared with the Current by the WGA.
Isiahis Beauchamp, of Black River, New York, moved frequently growing up due to his father’s military career. Upon relocating to New York, he joined the caddie program to make friends. He intends to study public health at the University of Kansas.
“From the first time I visited Sankaty, the camp brotherhood was truly inspiring,” he said. “I fell in love with the craft of caddying – it afforded me so many memories and lessons beyond caddying and golf, helping me develop as a person.”
Andrew D’Souza, of North Palm Beach, Florida, grew up minutes down the road from Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, where he got his start caddying. In college, he hopes to study business at the University of Maryland.
“The experience was like no other,” he said of his time at Sankaty. “The structured, disciplined environment at Sankaty Head helped me grow personally and provided a forum to discuss future goals and college guidance. Caddying everyday with my Sankaty brothers, and once again making connections and memories is truly a testament to how far caddying can and will take you if you work hard. Through the opportunities offered by Seminole and Sankaty, the most important door of all has been opened to me, a chance at a full scholarship.”
Nicholas Garcia, of Wyoming, Michigan, was introduced to the program through his local First Tee chapter. In college, he plans to study computer engineering at Michigan State University.
“Caddying has helped me mature as a person, develop my understanding and love for golf as a whole, and learn to be independent while being hundreds of miles away from home,” he said.
Lapidoth Iyiola, of Atlanta, Georgia, immigrated from Nigeria with his parents and two siblings in 2018. He plans to study computer science at the University of Notre Dame.
“In Nigeria, I was always at the top of my class. After moving to the U.S., I found myself struggling to pass some classes,” he said. “Waking up early and learning work ethic in the caddie yard instilled discipline in me. With my newfound discipline, caddying and school became a lot easier.”
Kieran Moran, of Locust Valley, New York, discovered caddying when looking for a way to escape summers in his hometown. He intends to study Mandarin, and economics or global affairs at the University of Notre Dame.
“As I caddied, my true self slowly emerged – one who would build on connections and take advantage of the opportunities at Sankaty,” he said. “Caddying, simply through the shared conversations and memories with members and my fellow caddies, has taught me how to be resilient, appreciative, adaptive, hardworking and supportive. I am proud of how far I’ve come from that insecure middle school kid.”
Each of the recipients will begin college this fall as Evans Scholars, attending one of the Program’s 24 partner universities nationwide. The Evans Scholarship is valued at more than $125,000 over four years. Below are the 24 participating universities.
- Howard University
- University of Iowa
- Rutgers University
- University of Illinois Chicago
- University of Maryland
- University of Chicago
- Penn State University
- University of Oregon
- Ohio State University
- University of Wisconsin
- University of Washington
- Purdue University
- University of Notre Dame
- Northwestern University
- University of Missouri
- University of Minnesota
- Michigan State University
- University of Michigan
- Miami University
- Marquette University
- University of Kansas
- Indiana University
- University of Illinois
- University of Colorado
The WGA is headquartered in Glenview, Illinois and has supported the Chick Evans Scholarship Program through the Evans Scholars Foundation since 1930. It is the nation’s largest scholarship program for caddies.
Currently, a record 1,130 caddies are enrolled at 24 universities nationwide – including 14 from Sankaty Head – as Evans Scholars. More than 12,040 caddies – including 15 from Sankaty Head – have graduated as Evans Scholars since the Program was founded by amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr. in 1930.
"We are so excited to have five of our caddies be awarded the Evans Scholarship in 2024,” says Dave Hinman, director of the Sankaty Head Caddie Program. “These five young men have done an outstanding job caddying at Sankaty Head and will continue the tradition set by our previous winners. The Sankaty Head Foundation so values the relationship with the Evans Scholars Program. We look forward to seeing great things from these Scholars."