Merion Golf Club's 1st Female Caddie Earns College Scholarship

HAVERFORD TOWNSHIP, PA — A Haverford High School senior who has worked as a golf caddie has earned a full housing and tuition college grant.

Havertown's Abigail Schmucker is one of three local recipients of the Platt Evans Scholarship.

Schmucker will begin college this fall as a Platt Evans Scholar and plans to study nursing or biology.

She is the first female caddie at Merion Golf Club.

"As the first female caddie at my club, this job has helped me grow exponentially, not only as a caddie, but a person," she said. "My people skills and networking abilities have flourished, and I am able to lead my life with a level of confidence that I previously did not have."

The result of a partnership between the Western Golf Association’s Evans Scholars Foundation and the Golf Association of Philadelphia's J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust, Platt Evans Scholars are chosen based on showing a strong caddie record, excellent academics, demonstrated financial need and outstanding character.

This marks the 11th year of the partnership between the ESF and the J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust.

"As the Chairwoman of J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust, I am thrilled to welcome our 2024 Platt Evans Scholars," Tina Gregor, Chairwoman of J. Wood Platt, said. "Their academic excellence, community engagement, personal character and commitment to caddying reflects our mission and inspires our support."

The Western Golf Association, 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 the nation’s largest scholarship program for caddies.

A record 1,130 caddies are enrolled at 24 universities across the nation 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.