Through the decades: How a local golf group grew into national prominence, hosting some of the world’s best golf tournaments and creating the country’s largest scholarship fund for youth caddies.
In September 1899, the newly formed Western Golf Association conducts the inaugural Western Open and Western Amateur at Glen View Club in Golf, Illinois.
Chicago’s famed amateur golfer Chick Evans wins the 1910 Western Open and, in 1916, captures the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open titles. In the wake of his growing national fame, Evans envisions using his success to promote college scholarships for caddies.
In 1923, J.K. Wadley, a Texas oilman and WGA director, donates an ornate sterling silver cup to be presented annually to the Western Open champion. Today, the tradition continues, and the J.K. Wadley Trophy bears the names of all Western Open/BMW Championship winners.
WGA directors award the first two Evans Scholarships to caddies Harold Fink and Jim McGinnis, who enrolled at Northwestern University as freshmen in the fall of 1930.
WGA leaders commission production of the “Honor Caddie” movie starring Chick Evans, Bob Hope and Bing Crosby in 1949 to promote caddies and the Evans Scholarships nationwide.
The Evans Scholars program expands rapidly in the decade, growing from one chapter to seven.
Jack Nicklaus, who won the 1961 Western Amateur, wins back-to-back Western Open titles at The Beverly Country Club (1967) and Olympia Fields Country Club (1968).
The Western Amateur becomes a fixture at Point O’ Woods Golf & Country Club in Benton Harbor, Michigan, as Andy North claims the 1971 title in the first of 38 consecutive Western Amateurs hosted by The Point. Champions in that span include Ben Crenshaw, Curtis Strange, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods.
In 1985, Scott Verplank wins the Western Amateur and Western Open, becoming the first amateur since Chick Evans to win both titles. No other amateur has ever won the Western Open.
Tiger Woods, winner of the 1994 Western Amateur, excites Western Open fans three years later at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club by marching to his first of five victories in the storied championship.
In 2006, BMW and WGA announce a partnership with the PGA Tour to create the BMW Championship – the penultimate event of the PGA Tour playoffs when the new FedExCup competition debuted in 2007.
WGA/ESF reaches a five-year goal of funding 1,000 Evans Scholarships annually, as 1,010 Scholars enroll at universities across the nation for the 2019 fall semester.
Charles Cherney Photography
WGA launches inaugural Caddie Academy chapter to provide work opportunities for underserved female students. Program grows to six sites nationwide by 2024.
The WGA/ESF’s Promise Campaign surpasses its fundraising goal, fueling further expansion of the Evans Scholars program from coast to coast and development of new caddie training and career mentorship initiatives.