Victoria's Patrick Coolican Awarded Western Golf Association’s Chick Evans Scholarship
British Columbia Caddie Patrick Coolican Earns Full University Scholarship - Patrick Coolican Image: Dittoe Public Relations/Victoria GC 18th hole image courtesy Victoria GC
GLENVIEW, IL – A student from British Columbia, Canada, has been awarded the Evans Scholarship — a full housing and tuition university grant offered to golf caddies — following a selection meeting interview held in December.
Patrick Coolican of Victoria will begin university this fall as an Evans Scholar, where he plans to study music. He will attend one of the Program’s 24 partner universities, with a decision on his awarded school to be finalized by March 15. The Evans Scholarship is valued at more than $125,000 over four years.
The Western Golf Association (WGA), 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 America’s largest scholarship program for caddies.
To qualify for the Evans Scholarship, each student must meet the Program’s four selection criteria and show a strong caddie record, excellent academics, demonstrated financial need and outstanding character.
Currently, a record 1,130 caddies are enrolled at 24 universities across the United States as Evans Scholars, and 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.
“Patrick has excelled at Victoria Golf Club. He overcame extreme shyness to become an expert caddie,” says WGA Director and Victoria Golf Club member Jenny Dobell. “He is a gifted pianist and an excellent student. We know he will thrive in university, which he can now attend, thanks to being awarded the Evans Scholarship. The members and staff are very proud of Patrick. It has been a great pleasure to have him in our caddie program.”
Patrick lives with his mother, an immigrant from Japan, and two siblings. Currently, he is in Grade 12 at Reynolds Secondary School and caddies at Victoria Golf Club.
“Throughout my years as a caddie at Victoria Golf Club, I have made many lifelong connections and friendships, and I have grown to become the strong person I am today,” he says. “My experience there has even led me to receive the MVP Caddie Award in my last year of working. Looking back to grade 9, I didn't realize how much of a privilege it was to be accepted to the caddie program.”
Selection meeting interviews for Evans Scholar finalists will continue nationwide through spring. When the 2023-24 selection meeting process is complete, an estimated 340 caddies from across the United States are expected to be awarded the Evans Scholarship.
“We are thrilled to welcome Patrick to the Evans Scholars family,” said WGA Chairman Steve Colnitis. “His dedication in the classroom, on the golf course and in his community represents the best of what our Program has been about since 1930.”
Funds for the Scholarship come mostly from contributions by more than 36,000 golfers 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. In 2024, the BMW Championship will be held from Aug. 20-25 at Castle Pines Golf Club in the Denver area.
To learn more about the WGA and ESF, visit wgaesf.org.