Federal Way, Wash. - The 16th annual Evans Cup of Oregon, held Monday, September 9 at Royal Oaks Country Club in Vancouver, Wash., and the 22nd annual Evans Cup of Washington, held September 16 at Overlake Golf and Country Club in Medina, Wash., combined to raise $275,000 to benefit the Evans Caddie Scholarship Program.
At the Evans Cup of Washington, PGA Tour star and Seattle native Fred Couples spent the day playing golf and joining the dinner afterward. Caddying for Couples was Evans Scholar Tim Dills, who is a sophomore at the University of Washington. Also joining the field was PGA Tour player Kyle Stanley, a native of nearby Gig Harbor, Wash.
The funds generated at these annual fundraisers help support the region's Evans Scholars who attend the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, University of Washington, University of Notre Dame and University of Colorado. Currently, there are 49 young men and women Evans Scholars from the Northwest, with each of them receiving four year, full tuition and housing grants valued at over $50,000.
Each year, the Washington State Golf Association (WSGA), Oregon Golf Association (OGA), Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA) and Western Golf Association (WGA) Directors conduct these first-class events consisting of a day filled with golf during which current Evans Scholars caddie for participants, gourmet dinner, and upscale silent and live auction items. Funds at these Evans Cups are raised through sponsorships and the auction items. KeyBank is the Presenting Sponsor of both Evans Cups, and is a major contributor in supporting the Evans Caddie Scholarship Program in the Northwest.
"It is fantastic to see the enthusiastic support for the Evans Scholarship as we set out to expand the Program in the Northwest," said Bill Moses, Director of the West Region for the Evans Scholars Foundation. "We are grateful for all those in the golf community who have so generously contributed to the success of the events. With the funds raised from the Evans Cups we will be able to make this life-changing opportunity available to more young men and women who will be able to realize their dream of a college education."
Highlights from both evenings included testimonials from past and current Scholars, who spoke of the impact that becoming an Evans Scholar has made in their lives. At the Oregon event, Janis Bailey, an Evans Scholar alum who graduated in 1979, spoke about how the game and the scholarship molded her character. She is the daughter of Bobby Litton, who served as the head PGA professional at Royal Oaks for three decades. And at the Washington event, Jordan Wall, a senior at the University of Washington, spoke about the educational opportunities the scholarship has given him.
At the Washington event, George Holland, who has been a WGA Director since 1994, was honored for his induction into the Caddie Hall of Fame. "Golf absolutely changed my life," said Holland. "I got my start in golf as a caddie. The role models and advice I received (while working as a young caddie) changed the trajectory of my life." Holland would later play golf at the University of Washington. He served four years as president of the Washington State Golf Association and in 1997 was inducted into the Pacific Northwest Golf Hall of Fame, which is administered by the Pacific Northwest Golf Association. The Caddie Hall of Fame was established in 1999 by the Professional Caddies Association and is now administered by the WGA.
The Evans Scholars Foundation, sponsored by the Western Golf Association, administers the nation's largest privately funded college scholarship program, providing full tuition and housing grants to deserving caddies. Since the first two Scholars enrolled at Northwestern University in 1930, nearly 10,000 young men and women have graduated from the program. This year, 840 Evans Scholars are enrolled at 19 universities across the country. In order for high school students to qualify they must be nominated by their golf club and meet the following four requirements: excellent academic record with above a B average in college preparatory classes, have a strong caddie record for two or more years, demonstrate financial need, and have outstanding personal character.
For more information on the Evans Caddie Scholarship Program, including how to apply for scholarships and how a club can provide opportunities for young applicants, please visit www.wgaesf.com.
