Good Afternoon Everyone,
I would like to begin by thanking the Board of Trustees, the amazing J Wood Platt staff,
and most importantly, all of the generous donors. I am very honored to have been
named the 2025 Francis C. Poore Caddie of the Year.
This scholarship has been a blessing to myself and my family. When I first started
caddying at Llanerch Country Club, I never imagined it would lead to a moment like this.
Being a caddie teaches you many life lessons. When I started as a junior in high school,
it taught me responsibility. You show up early, sometimes earlier than the sun, and you
learn that the smallest details matter. You learn how to not only read lies and greens, but
people as well. You learn when to speak up, and when the best advice is silence.
Somewhere between the fairways and greens, you begin to grow up too.
Every loop I have taken has shaped me in some way. Sometimes the lesson was
patience, other times it was humility. Other times, it was realizing that leaders are not
always the loudest voice, but rather the calmest presence.
The J. Wood Platt Scholarship is far more than financial support, though I am deeply
grateful for that. What makes this program special is the belief it places in caddies. It
teaches us that our hard work has value, that our character matters as much as our
GPA, and that the people around us see our effort.
I want to extend my sincere thanks to the entire J. Wood Platt organization. Your
commitment to young people, and your willingness to invest in our futures, truly changes
lives. I am but one example of that, and there are countless other caddies whose paths
have been made brighter, because of your generosity and your faith in us.
To the Llanerch community – the members, my caddie master Chris Wright, and my
fellow caddies – thank you for everything. You have been mentors, role models, friends,
and great people to grow up around. You have offered advice, encouragement,
friendship, and sometimes a much needed push.
Standing here today, I feel immense gratitude, but also responsibility. Being named the
Francis C. Poore Caddie of the Year is not just an award, but a constant reminder to
keep leading with the values that caddying, and this scholarship, have taught me as I
continue my studies and hopefully begin my career (Hopefully I’ll find one).
Thank you again for this tremendous honor. I am proud to represent the J. Wood Platt
Scholarship, and I will work hard to continue earning the confidence you have placed in
me.
GAP
Celebrating Amateur Golf since 1897, GAP, also known as the Golf Association of Philadelphia, is the oldest regional or state golf association in the United States. It serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. The Association’s 288 Member Clubs and 75,000 individual members are spread across the Eastern half of Pennsylvania and parts of New Jersey and Delaware. The GAP’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.
J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust
The J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust was created in 1958 and is the charitable arm of GAP (Golf Association of Philadelphia). The J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust’s mission is to financially aid and empower qualified caddies and those working in golf operations in the pursuit of higher education. Along with aiding caddies financially, J. Wood Platt’s EMPOWER program strengthens scholarship investment dollars by providing caddies with exceptional benefits and leadership training through access to the wide network of J. Wood Platt donors and alumni. To date, more than 3,700 young men and women have received $25 million in aid from the Trust.
