GLENVIEW, IL – Four students from the Philadelphia area were recently named recipients of the Platt Evans Scholarship, a full housing and tuition college grant awarded to golf caddies, following a selection meeting held on Feb. 9.
The result of a partnership between the Western Golf Association’s Evans Scholars Foundation and the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust, Platt Evans Scholars are chosen based on showing a strong caddie record, excellent academics, demonstrated financial need and outstanding character. Recipients, who are listed below, will attend Penn State University in State College this fall.
This marks the ninth year of the partnership between the ESF and the J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust.
“These young students are part of an exceptional incoming class of New Scholars from around the nation,” said WGA Chairman Joe Desch. “They represent what the Evans Scholars Program has been about since 1930.”
“As our partnership grows with the Evans Scholars Foundation each year, J. Wood Platt is excited to welcome another class of caddie Scholars to Penn State,” said J. Wood Platt Chairwoman Tina Gregor. “We are dedicated to this partnership and the opportunity to change lives together.”
The Evans Scholars selection interviews are being held with applicants nationwide through the spring. When the 2021-22 selection meeting process is complete, an estimated 315 caddies from across the country are expected to be awarded the Evans Scholarship.
Two of this year’s Platt Evans Scholars are members of the Eastern Caddie Academy, a special summer program run by the WGA that provides caddie opportunities to under-resourced high school students. This program offers students a chance to caddie each day, earn money, meet role models and learn valuable life lessons on the golf course. After completing three summers, participants are eligible to apply for the Platt Evans Scholarship.
The Western Golf Association, headquartered in Glenview, Illinois, has supported the Chick Evans Scholarship Program through the Evans Scholars Foundation since 1930. Known as one of golf’s favorite charities, it is the nation’s largest scholarship program for caddies.
Currently, a record 1,070 caddies are enrolled at 21 universities across the nation as Evans Scholars, and more than 11,500 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since the program was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr.
Listed below are this year’s recipients of the Platt Evans Scholarship.
| Name | City | Club | High School | University |
| Attila Horvath | Erdenheim | Philadelphia Cricket Club | Springfield Township HS | Penn State |
| Matthew Corr | Havertown | Llanerch CC | St. Joseph’s Prep | Penn State |
| Guemada Achoute* | Philadelphia | Overbrook Golf Club | Cristo Rey HS | Penn State |
| Arielle Pierre* | Upland | Overbrook Golf Club | 21st Century Cyber Charter | Penn State |
*Eastern Caddie Academy participant.
J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust
The J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust was created in 1958 by the Golf Association of Philadelphia through the efforts of then President Walter A. Schmidt; Leo Fraser, President of the local section of Professional Golfers Association of America; and Albert Keeping, Golf Professional at Gulph Mills Golf Club. It was named in honor of Philadelphia’s premier golfer of the era, J. Wood Platt. Not only was Mr. Platt an accomplished player, but he was also the Trust’s co-founder and first contributor. To date, more than 3,800 young men and women have received $24 million in aid from the Trust.
Evans Scholars Foundation
The Western Golf Association, headquartered in Glenview, Illinois, has supported the Evans Scholars Foundation since 1930. One of golf’s favorite charities, the Evans Scholars Program is the nation’s largest scholarship program for caddies. Currently, a record 1,070 caddies are enrolled in 21 universities across the nation as Evans Scholars, and more than 11,500 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 nearly 35,000 golfers across the country, who are members of the Evans Scholars Par Club program. Evans Scholars Alumni donate more than $17 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. The BMW Championship will be held at Wilmington Country Club from Aug. 16-21, 2022. Proceeds from the event will help support the Evans Scholars Program. To learn more about the WGA and ESF, visit www.wgaesf.org.
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.
