Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2023 - 31

CADDIE CORNER
Seven-Club Fundraiser Celebrates
30th Anniversary
W
hen Chick Evans won the 1916
U.S. Amateur at the Merion
Cricket Club and the 1916 U.S.
Open at the Minikahda Club, he only carried
seven clubs in his bag-during a time
when players would carry up to 20 clubs.
In 1930, Evans partnered with the Western
Golf Association (WGA) and used his
$200 winnings from his U.S. Open victory
to start the Evans Scholar Foundation
(ESF), a full tuition and housing scholarship
for caddies. In its first year, the
ESF funded its first two Evans Scholars
at Northwestern University. The Evans
Scholarship was established in Minnesota
20 years later when Jim Lange, host of the
" The Dating Game, " was the first recipient
of the scholarship, attending the University
of Minnesota.
In 1993, in response to a lack of a true Evans Scholars fundraiser
in Minnesota, Evans Scholar alum, Minnesota Golf
Association President and WGA Director Roger Gordon
created the Chick Evans Memorial Seven-Club Fundraiser.
While Gordon passed away in 2000, the event has continued
in his honor.
" The real success story is due to those that picked up after
Roger died in 2000. Not only did they get the new [Evans
Scholarship] house built, but they continued and improved the
tournament, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars. Roger
would be smiling, " says Trudy Halla, Gordon's widow.
The purpose of the event was to honor Chick Evans by playing
with seven clubs, wear time-period clothing from when he
won the U.S. Open in 1916 and raise money for the Minnesota
ESF. Since its inception, the event has raised over $1 million dollars
for the Minnesota Evans Scholars.
This year marked the 30th edition of the event which was
played June 26 at Windsong Farm. There are not many golf
fundraising events that last 30 years, but the Seven-Club has
stood the test of time. That can largely be attributed to Cheryl
Schneider, a longtime WGA Director, and Anne Mullen, MGA
meeting and event manager, being the " face " of the event for the
last 20 years.
Schneider describes the event in her own words: " It is a very fun
event to be a part of. We have so many repeat groups from year to
year. Close to 90 percent of our groups play every year. They are
mngolf.org
Minnesota Evans Scholar caddies prior to the 2022 Chick
Evans Memorial Seven-Club Fundraiser at the Minikahda Club.
not there to win a golf tournament; they are there to support the
Evans Scholars. "
A major change that Schneider and Mullen made when they
took over tournament operations was to have current Minnesota
Evans Scholars caddie for every group in the event.
" The thing that we did that really added to the event was
bringing the active Evans Scholars from the [University of
Minnesota] house and have them caddie for the event. I firmly
believe that when you see where your money is going, that makes
the biggest impact on you personally, " Schneider explains.
In addition to caddying for the event, the Evans Scholars
all introduce themselves one by one in front of the whole ballroom,
sharing their major, year in school and their home caddie
club while the golfers eat dinner following the round. Mullen
describes this as the " star " of the event.
Reflecting on their 20 years together, Schneider and Mullen
say they are very proud of the event, what it has become and the
impact it has had on so many people.
" The amount of money that we have been able to raise over
the last 20 years is a huge point of pride for me and us because it
is such a wonderful scholarship, " Mullen says.
Here's to another 30 years!
Jack Mendesh is the MGA's caddie development manager, and can
be reached at caddie@mngolf.org.
Summer 2023 MINNESOTAGOLFER
31
* BY JACK MENDESH *
PHOTO: JEFF LAWLER
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2023

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