Chick Evans

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Evans in 1915
Evans in 1915

Charles Evans, Jr, who was generally known as Chick Evans, (July 18, 1890 - November 6, 1979) was a leading amateur golfer of the 1910s and 1920s considered second only to Bobby Jones in his era. Evans was the first amateur to win the U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur in one year, a feat he achieved in 1916. Evans went on to win the U.S. Amateur in 1920, while finishing runner-up three times. Selected to the Walker Cup team in 1922, 1924, and 1928, Evans competed in a record 50 consecutive U.S. Amateurs in his long career. All this was achieved with only seven hickory-shafted clubs. In addition to his golf career, Evans is known for sponsoring a college scholarship for qualified caddies.

In 1960, he was voted the Bob Jones Award, the highest honor given by the United States Golf Association in recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in golf.

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[edit] History

Evans (right) with Robert A. Gardner (left), after beating him in the 1916 U.S. Amateur
Evans (right) with Robert A. Gardner (left), after beating him in the 1916 U.S. Amateur

Evans was born on July 18, 1890 in Indianapolis, Indiana, and grew up on the north side of Chicago. At the age of eight, Evans was first exposed to golf by being a caddie at a Chicagoland course known as Edgewater Golf Club. From these beginnings, Evans became one of the most acclaimed American amateur golfers of his time, eventually earning induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1975. The accomplishment that gave him the most contemporary publicity came in 1916, when Evans won both the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open in the same year. He was the first person to accomplish this task, and only Bobby Jones has done it since. Evans also won the Western Open in 1910, the only amateur to do so until Scott Verplank in 1985.

Into the 1960s, Evans was an active participant in senior tournaments. Even at his old age, he was still competing in the U.S. Amateur events, and eventually set a record of completing 50 of these championships. Evans played his last rounds of competitive golf in 1967. After his retirement, he continued to attend events as a spectator and converse with the fans and players.

[edit] Approaching the WGA

After his wins in 1916, Evans was given several thousand dollars in royalties for recording golf instructions for the Brunswick Record Company. If he accepted this money, he would have lost his amateur status. Evans's mother suggested that he could put the money to good use by sponsoring a scholarship fund for caddies. (Evans was himself unable to finish his matriculation at Northwestern University due to financial reasons.) Evans is quoted as saying: "My mother wouldn't think of accepting my money unless we could arrange it to be trusted to furnish educations for deserving qualified caddies." He also went on to say, "She pointed out that the money came from golf and thus should go back into golf-It was all her dream-her idea."

Evans went to the Western Golf Association (WGA), an organization that ran golf championships in the Midwest, to get their support for his scholarship. The organization initially declined to support Evans, but eventually agreed to oversee his fund. By 1929, the Evans Scholars Foundation had formed.

[edit] Forming the Evans Scholars Foundation

Evans's dream was finally made a reality in 1930, when two caddies by the name of Harold Fink and Jim McGinnis were named the first two Evans Scholars. The criteria used to choose these recipients were scholarship, fellowship, and leadership. Since that time, over 8,000 caddies have become Evans Scholars and attained college educations. The scholarship program continues today.

[edit] Tournament wins

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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