Four students from Long Island have been awarded the Long Island Evans Scholarship, a full housing and tuition college scholarship for deserving caddies, following a selection interview that was held at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck on Feb. 6.
“We are thrilled to welcome this new class to the Evans Scholars family,” said Western Golf Association (WGA) Chairman Steve Colnitis. “Their dedication in the classroom, on the golf course and in their community represents what our program has been about since 1930.”
The students will begin college this fall as Long Island Evans Scholars, attending one of the program’s 24 partner universities. The scholarship is valued at more than $125,000 over four years.
The four Long Island caddies selected for this year’s honor include:
- Joseph Mayal of Bethpage, attends St. Anthony’s High School and is sponsored by Garden City Golf Club
- Michael Poremba of Hampton Bays, attends Hampton Bays High School and is sponsored by Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
- Colin Lynch of Riverhead, attends Riverhead High School and is sponsored by Friar’s Head
- Luke Richard of Riverhead, attends Riverhead High School and is sponsored by Friar’s Head
“As partners, the Long Island Caddie Scholarship Fund and the Evans Scholarship Foundation are actively working together to provide opportunities within the local community,” says Michael Sullivan, president of the Long Island Caddie Scholarship Fund. “Our Scholars are both deserving and driven, and we are proud to be able to contribute to their bright futures.”
The result of a partnership between the Evans Scholars Foundation and the Long Island Caddie Scholarship Fund, Long Island Evans Scholars are selected based on showing a strong caddie record, excellent academics, financial need and outstanding character. Candidates must meet the qualifications of both organizations to earn the scholarship.
We had a chance to speak with Joseph Mayal, the scholarship recipient from Bethpage about caddying. Here is what he had to share.
CH: What makes a good caddy?
JM: Most people are physically capable of being caddies. The days can be hot and grueling. I think caddying is a lot more mental; you need to be very attentive and aware of your surroundings so that you can help your golfer have the best experience and play their best game. You need to know when you speak and when to be quiet. When I am asked, I can give my best insights about how to hit a difficult shot.
CH: What’s the best part about caddying?
JM: I’ve been playing golf since I was three years old, almost my whole life. Caddying was always the logical next step for a summer job. I have always loved golf and could spend all day, all summer on the golf course. As a caddy, you hold yourself to a very high standard in terms of giving reads and making sure that you know you’re doing the best so that it helps the person you’re caddying for play the best they can.
The Western Golf Association, headquartered in Glenview, IL, 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 1,130 caddies are enrolled at 24 universities nationwide as Evans Scholars. More than 12,040 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since the program was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr. in 1930.
As the Evans Scholars Program continues to grow nationwide, more students from newer areas are being introduced to caddying and potentially earn a full college scholarship. Currently, there are eight Long Island Evans Scholars in school; a decade ago, there were three Long Island Evans Scholars in school.
Funds for the Evans Scholarship come mostly from contributions by more than 38,500 supporters across the country, who belong to the Evans Scholars Par Club program. Evans Scholars Alumni donate more than $15 million annually, and all proceeds from the BMW Championship, the penultimate PGA TOUR Playoff event in the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup competition, benefit the program. This year, the BMW Championship will be held from Aug. 20-25 at Castle Pines Golf Club in the Denver area.
The 2027 BMW Championship will be played at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, in August 2027. This will be the BMW Championship’s first visit to New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area and the event’s fifth stop on the East Coast since 2018. Since 2007, the BMW Championship has raised more than $50 million for caddie scholarships.
Visit longislandcaddiescholarship.
