Chase Sanders, a Jupiter, Fla., resident and a caddy at The Bear’s Club, was recently named an Evans Scholar by the Western Golf Association, as presented by club officials. Sanders is captain of the Jupiter High School football team and will soon be attending University of Colorado-Boulder.
The Evans Scholars Foundation has been administered by the Western Golf Association since 1930 when the first two scholarships were awarded to caddies. The program was created to send deserving caddies to college—a vision of famed golfer Chick Evans Jr. Today’s awardees are selected based on academics, financial need, caddy record and strong character and leadership.
With college tuition on the rise, the Foundation is working to expand the program both in terms of scholarships awarded and geographic reach. Sanders’ receipt of the award represents the first Evans Scholar to be so named in South Florida.
“The Bear’s Club is a promoter of junior golf in the area through junior golf instruction and caddie programs,” said Eric Veilleux, Director of Golf. “The fact that we can help some of our young caddies realize the goal of attending top universities is very rewarding to management and club members.”
In receiving the award, Sanders joins a network of more than 10,000 Evans Scholars alumni—it is the nation’s largest scholarship program for golf caddies. In total, more than $348 million in tuition and housing scholarships has been awarded all-time through the program. The Foundation is the sole beneficiary of the BMW Championship, a PGA Tour FedExCup Playoff event conducted by the Western Golf Association.
Currently, 910 students are enrolled at 19 universities, including 14 where the Evans Scholars Foundation owns and operates Scholarship Houses. The cumulative GPA of Evans Scholars currently enrolled in college is 3.2 and the graduation rate is 95 percent.
