Minnesota Golfer - Spring 2022 - 37

CADDIE CORNER
Making an Impact
* BY JACK MENDESH *
W
hen asked what the Evans Scholarship would mean to her, Janelle Larson, a caddiescholar
from Midland Hills Country Club, responded, " The Evans Scholarship would
not only save my family from a huge financial burden, but it would also put me into
a community of scholars that will be like a family to me. "
Another prospective caddie-scholar, Dominic Lelemsis, of Minnesota Valley Country Club
said of his volunteer experience at a nursing home, " I learned that if I show up with a smile, kind
word, and a loving heart, I can make a difference in the world. Just smiling and saying 'hello' to
someone can make their day. "
And, finally, Joseph McDonald, a caddie-scholar from Interlachen Country Club said about the
day in Mandarin, " Today is a very special day in my life. " McDonald is fluent in Mandarin, learning
the language from a very young age.
So went interviews with five scholar candidates whittled from a group of 24 Evans Scholars
applicants from around Minnesota during a hybrid in-person and virtual meeting on February 1
with an audience of more than 100 participants including Evans alumni, donors, educators, golf club
staff, Western Golf Association staff and WGA directors. While COVID-19 restrictions prevented the
interviews from occurring entirely 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 Janelle Larson from Roseville Area H.S./Midland Hills CC,
Dominic Lelemsis from Chesterton Academy/Minnesota Valley CC, Joseph McDonald from
Minnetonka H.S./Interlachen CC, Bryson Schenck from Edina H.S./Hazeltine National GC, and
Nicholas Wyatt from Southwest H.S./The Minikahda Club.
The scholarship applicants received 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 recently, awarding 315 scholarships to 21 colleges and universities
in the fall. There are currently a record 1,070 caddies enrolled as Evans Scholars across
the nation.
As a young adult, Chick Evans was 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. Five 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 1,000
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.
Jack Mendesh is the MGA's caddie development manager, and can be reached at caddie@mngolf.org.
MGA Member Clubs
with Caddie Programs
Bearpath Golf & Country
Club
Edina Country Club
Elk River Golf Club
Golden Valley Country Club
Hazeltine National Golf Club
Interlachen Country Club
Madden's On Gull Lake - The
Classic
Midland Hills Country Club
Minneapolis Golf Club
Minnesota Valley Country
Club
North Oaks Golf Club
Northland Country Club
Oak Ridge Country Club
Olympic Hills Golf Club
Somerset Country Club
Spring Hill Golf Club
The Minikahda Club
Town & Country Club
Wayzata Country Club
White Bear Yacht Club
Windsong Farm Golf Club
Woodhill Country Club
Janelle Larson
mngolf.org
Dominic Lelemsis Joseph McDonald Bryson Schenck Nicholas Wyatt
Spring 2022 MINNESOTAGOLFER
37
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Spring 2022

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