Elgin Country Club Caddie Michael Thompson Wins Evans Scholarship

Online, May 25, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Michael Thompson, the most recent Elgin Country Club recipient of the Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship, has lived in Elgin for eight years and currently attends Burlington Central High School. Michael is an honor student and participates in track and is an All-Area football player Burlington High School. Michael's first reaction when he found out that he would be awarded the scholarship was "really shocked and happy".

Michael started caddying at Elgin Country Club three years ago. In his first season as a caddie, Michael quickly rose through the ranks to become one of the top caddies at Elgin. Since then, has matured into an extremely proficient and experienced caddie, and is one of the most requested caddies at Elgin Country Club. Jon Duppler, Head Golf Professional at Elgin, said about Michael: "He is a hard working and and extremely intelligent young man. Michael is very deserving of this award, and will be successful in whatever area of study and field he chooses for the future."

Michael applied for and was awarded the Evans Scholarship earlier this year. The Western Golf Association and the Evans Scholars Foundation sponsor the Evans Scholarship each year. The scholarship is named after Charles "Chick" Evans Jr., of Chicago, who learned the game of golf as a caddie. Evans gained worldwide fame in 1916 when he became the first golfer to win both the US Amateur and the US Open championships in the same year. Evans directed that all money he received from golf go to funding caddie scholarships. The Western Golf Association administers the scholarship program through the Evans Scholars Foundation. The scholarship provides for tuition and housing in an Evans Scholarship House and may be renewed up to four years at the Foundation's option.

All candidates for the Evans Scholarship must meet the following qualifications: a strong caddie record, excellent academics, demonstrated financial need and outstanding character. Matt Wojciechowski, Caddie Master and Assistant Golf Professional at Elgin, encouraged Michael to apply for the scholarship. Wojciechowski said "Michael was definitely an excellent candidate due to his strong caddie record and his academic and extracurricular achievements". Michael sent the application to the foundation and was interviewed by the Evans Foundation Board; he was awarded the scholarship last month. Michael will attend Northern Illinois University in DeKalb this fall, and plans to major in Political Science. He will continue to caddie at Elgin Country Club for the duration of his undergraduate education; one of the requirements for yearly renewal of the Evans Scholarship.

Nine caddies from Elgin Country Club have previously been awarded the Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship: R. Erik Soderstrom (Indiana University), Nathan Funk (Northern Illinois University), Brad Horton (Northwestern University), Russel Ambrosen (Northern Illinois University), Doug Horton (Indiana University), Yoichi Kodamo (Northern Illinois University), Manuel Diaz (Northwestern University), David Kolzow (Northern Illinois University) and Devin Skopek (Northern Illinois University).
Elgin Country Club, founded in 1901, is the third oldest private golf facility in Illinois. Elgin Country Club is member-owned and offers a dynamic and scenic 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, pool and multiple dining venues.

For more information, contact Membership Director, Michael Storey at 847-622-4821 or [email protected], or visit Elgin Country Club online at www.elgincc.com.