Minnesota Golfer - Spring 2021 - 36

CADDIE CORNER
Five New Evans Scholars Chosen
For nearly a century, the scholarship program has
created opportunities for young men and women.
W
National,
hen asked what the Evans scholarship
would mean to him, Karsten Kimsal,
a caddie scholar from Hazeltine
responded, " The Evans Scholarship
would put me into a community of scholars that
will motivate you and lift you up. "
Another prospective caddie scholar,
William Addler, of Wayzata Country
Club said, " Leadership and my faith are
the two most important things to me.
The growth of the leader and the individuals
in the group is the most important
aspect of being a leader. "
And, finally, when asked about reading
greens for a member golfer, William
Nelson, a caddie scholar from Oak Ridge
Country Club, replied, " When caddying,
you can't control the green speed, but
you can control how you read the green.
This is a larger metaphor for controlling
things in your life; you can control what
you can control. "
So went interviews with five scholar
candidates, whittled from a group of 27
Evans Scholars applicants from around
Minnesota during a Zoom video conference
Feb. 2 with an audience of more
than 100 participants, including Evans
alumni, donors, educators,
golf club
Kaia Heltne from East Ridge H.S./Interlachen
CC, Garrett fr from Wayzata H.S./The Minikahda
Club, William Nelson from Hopkins H.S./Oak
Ridge CC, and William Addler from Southwest
Christian H.S./Wayzata CC.
The scholarship applicants received
William Addler
news of their Evans Scholarship selection
in mid-February, joining one of the largest
caddie scholarship programs in the
country. More than two dozen similar
selection meetings were held, awarding
300 scholarships to 20 colleges and universities
in the fall.
As a young adult, Chick Evans was
Kaia Heltne
Garrett Kaiser
Karsten Kimsal
staff, Western Golf Association staff
and WGA directors. While COVID-19
restrictions prevented the interviews
from occurring in person, the online
video platform allowed participants to
meet the highly accomplished young
men and one woman, who were selected based
on their high school academic record, leadership
activities, caddie record and their family's financial
need.
The five caddie scholars were Karsten Kimsal
William Nelson
forced to drop out of school due to
financial reasons. After winning the 1916
U.S. Open at The Minikahda Club in
Minneapolis, Evans turned down his golf
prize money and other related revenue to
start the Evans Scholarship Program for
young caddies. The first Evans Scholars
attended Northwestern University in
1930. Twenty years later, the first scholar
attended the University of Minnesota.
In 2030, the WGA will celebrate the
100th anniversary of that program, and
they have established ambitious goals for
the centennial, including increasing the
number of scholars from 1,100 to 1,500;
making the organization more diverse;
and doubling the number of youth caddies.
The Minnesota WGA volunteer
directors, working in concert with local
club staff, club leaders, community leaders
and the team at the MGA are creating
plans to strengthen local caddie programs to
support those goals. Watch for updates on this
important work.
from Minnetonka H.S./Hazeltine National GC,
Jack Mendesh is the MGA's new caddie program
manager, and can be reached at caddie@mngolf.org.
* BY JACK MENDESH *
MGA Member
Clubs with Caddie
Programs
If you have a friend
or family member
interested in a summer
job as a caddie, please
contact one of the following
clubs for more
information. Caddie
orientation typically
occurs in spring before
the golf course opens.
Bearpath Golf & CC
Dellwood CC
Edina CC
Elk River GC
Golden Valley CC
Hazeltine National GC
Interlachen CC
Madden's On Gull Lake
- The Classic
Midland Hills CC
Minneapolis GC
Minnesota Valley CC
North Oaks GC
Northland CC
Oak Ridge CC
Olympic Hills GC
Somerset CC
St. Cloud CC
The Minikahda Club
Town & Country Club
Wayzata CC
White Bear Yacht Club
Windsong Farm
Woodhill CC
36
MINNESOTAGOLFER Spring 2021
mngolf.org
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Spring 2021

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