Golf caddie earns full scholarship to CU Boulder

Geovani Castillo has caddied at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club during the past three seasons. Starting in golf through The First Tee program at GVR opened his eyes to the benefits of playing the game and the life lessons it teaches.

But he never imagined the summer job would also lead to the opportunity of a lifetime – the chance to earn a full scholarship to the University of Colorado in Boulder.

“When I found out about the Evans Scholarship, I just got even more excited about caddying,” he said. “The day I received my award letter, I was so proud. This is a huge weight off my parents’ shoulders, not having to worry about me. I’m just really happy that I made them happy.”

Castillo is one of 11 awardees of the Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship – a full, four-year tuition and housing college scholarship awarded to golf caddies – and will begin college as an Evans Scholar at the University of Colorado this fall.

Evans Scholars are chosen based on demonstrating a strong caddie record, excellent academics, demonstrated financial need and outstanding character. The scholarship is valued at more than $80,000 over four years.

The WGA, headquartered in Chicago, has supported the Evans Scholars Program through the Evans Scholars Foundation since 1930, and has partnered with the Colorado Golf Association since the mid-1960s. The Evans Scholarship is among the nation’s largest privately funded scholarship programs.

Currently, 870 caddies are enrolled in colleges across the nation as Evans Scholars, and more than 10,000 caddies – including 433 from Colorado – have graduated as Evans Scholars since the program was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr. in 1930. Castillo will join more than 45 other Evans Scholars in the chapter house next fall including GVR’s first Evans Scholar, sophomore Andrea Pickford.

Scholarship funds come mostly from contributions by 26,000 golfers across the country, who are members of the WGA Evans Scholars Par Club. Evans Scholars Alumni donate more than $8 million annually, and all proceeds from the BMW Championship are donated to the Evans Scholars Foundation. Visit www.wgaesf.org for more information on how to join the Par Club and support our Evans Scholars from Green Valley Ranch.