Bishop Luers senior Brandon Busch, right, recently named as one of four to earn Evans Scholarships, is now the fourth in his family to be so honored, joining, from left, Sarah, Madison and Stephen.
Cutting
Dunwiddie
Besson
Cutting
Dunwiddie
Besson
Bishop Luers senior Brandon Busch, right, recently named as one of four to earn Evans Scholarships, is now the fourth in his family to be so honored, joining, from left, Sarah, Madison and Stephen.
While Bishop Luers senior Brandon Busch stands as one of the newest Evans Scholars, it’s not a new development for his family. One of six children, Busch is now the fourth to be recognized as an Evans Scholar, which is a grant for full housing and tuition offered to golf caddies based on a strong caddie record, academics, demonstrated financial need and outstanding character.
“It’s been huge,” the youngest Busch said of what the program has meant to his family, as a single Evans Scholarship is valued at more than $125,000 over four years. “We’ve all gone to Purdue as well, so it’s built a sibling community for us, … where we have this thing that we share. It’s given us all huge opportunities. We owe a ton to the Evans Scholarship.”
In addition to being the fourth immediate family member – joining older siblings Madison, Stephen and Sarah – to earn an Evans scholarship, Busch is one of four area seniors selected as an Evans Scholar this year. He joins Huntington North’s Adalyn Cutting, Norwell’s Kendall Dunwiddie and Warsaw’s Keegan Besson.
The scholarship is named in honor of program founder Charles “Chick” Evans in 1930.
Busch, Cutting and Dunwiddie all caddie at Orchard Ridge Country Club, while Besson is a caddie at Tippecanoe Lake Country Club in Leesburg. A total of 360 caddies, including 19 in Indiana, were awarded the Evans Scholarship this year, and 12,285 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since the program’s inception 95 years ago.
The Busch family influence runs deep among the recipients from Orchard Ridge, as Cutting and Dunwiddie explained that Busch’s older sister Sarah trained both of them when they started caddying.
“The first day that I caddied, I shadowed under her,” Cutting said. “She was the first person I really ever met out on the course. She was really helpful, really sweet and just trying to help me.
“Growing up golfing, I knew a lot of golf etiquette already, but some of the tips she gave me – just where to stand and what to do and not to do – was helpful. She really made a big impact.”
While Cutting was exposed to the sport from an early age, Dunwiddie’s experience with golf stands in stark contrast. In fact, the Norwell senior hadn’t even played the sport or shown an interest in it until her brother attended a caddie call-out meeting.
“I started (caddying) when I was 12,” Dunwiddie said. “My mom signed my older brother up for it. They went to the first meeting, and my mom asked the golf pro how old you have to be to caddie. They said as old as (the caddie wants), so my mom said, ‘You’re doing it.’
“I showed up the second day and I was absolutely terrified to start, but once I got through my second round, I was fine. Everyone at the golf course is probably the nicest people I’ve ever met in my life.”
While caddying led each to the life-changing scholarship, each of the recipients noted that being a caddie has provided a positive impact on their lives in other ways. Among the most important reasons, they’ve seen their confidence grow immensely.
“For me, the most rewarding part is probably the boost in confidence this has given me,” Besson said. “Being a caddie, it’s something you constantly have to be doing your job well. It’s been awesome to put in all this work and see it pay off. I feel more confident in my social ability, along with just being more confident in my overall ability and having faith in myself.”
Cutting
Dunwiddie
Besson
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