(above) Carson Stapleton, a Mountainside resident and a senior at Governor Livingston High School, was one of 3 caddies awarded the 2019-20 NJSGA Evans Scholarship.
Carson Stapleton Awarded NJSGA Evans Scholarship
Carson Stapleton, a Mountainside resident and a senior at Governor Livingston High School, was one of 3 caddies awarded the 2019-20 NJSGA Evans Scholarship, a full housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies. The scholarship is the result of a partnership between the Western Golf Association’s Evans Scholars Foundation and the New Jersey State Golf Association Caddie Scholarship Foundation. He was awarded the NJSGA Evans Scholarship to attend Ohio State University.
WGA directors, Evans Scholars alumni and other Program supporters interviewed each of the nominees at the selection meeting. Each caddie has a unique story to tell, reflecting the scholarship’s four selection criteria: a strong caddie record; excellent academics; demonstrated financial need; and outstanding character. The full tuition and housing college scholarship is valued at an estimated $120,000 over four years.
Carson caddied at Baltusrol Golf Club. “Not only have I raked more bunkers than one could count, I also have gained knowledge and insight on life through my interactions with all types of golfers during my time as a caddie,” he said. “Thinking about going away to college was somewhat unrealistic, but the day on the golf course when a golfer told me I could receive a full college scholarship just for caddying changed all of that.”
Baltusrol caddie manager Brian Bianchi said: “Carson has been dedicated as a caddie the past two summers he has been with us. He is very reliable, and we have never had any complaints about his work. I went to NJSGA Evans Scholars selection meeting, and he did a good job there. He was poised and presented himself well.”
“Our NJSGA Evans Scholars have shown dedication, hard work and sacrifice to earn this life-changing scholarship, and we are honored to help them pursue their dreams,” said WGA Chairman Kevin Buggy.
Currently, a record 1,010 caddies are enrolled in 18 universities across the nation as Evans Scholars, and more than 11,050 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since the program was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr.
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 $14 million annually, and all proceeds from the BMW Championship, the third of four PGA TOUR Playoff events in the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup competition, are donated to the Evans Scholars Foundation.
For those who would like to become involved locally, the 18th annual New Jersey Evans Scholars Classic will be held at Hawk Pointe Golf Club in Washington, New Jersey, on July 27, with event proceeds benefiting NJSGA Evans Scholars.
To learn more about the WGA and ESF, visit wgaesf.org. To learn more about the NJSGA Caddie Scholarship Foundation, please visit njsga.org.
