Riverhead golf caddies earn full college scholarships after working at Friar's Head – RiverheadLOCAL

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Two graduating seniors at Riverhead High School, who work as golf caddies at Friar’s Head, have earned full housing and tuition scholarships for college from a fund that supports the education of young caddies across the country.
Colin Lynch and Luke Richard, both from Riverhead, are two of four recipients of the award in New York State from the Western Golf Association Evans Scholars Foundation and the Long Island Caddie Scholarship Fund.
The scholarship is given based on “a strong caddie record; excellent academics; demonstrated financial need; and outstanding character,” according to the Evans Scholars Foundation. The scholarship is valued at an estimated $125,000 over four years, and is funded by charitable donations and proceeds from one of the most important golf tournaments of the year, the BMW Championship, the organization said.
Lynch and Richard are both going to Rutgers University in New Jersey to study finance, they said. 
“This scholarship was huge… especially for my family. Everyone was really rooting for me and I just felt really blessed,” Lynch said. “It was like all the hard work I put in really paid off. So it really meant a lot.” 
“With all the help and support I’ve gotten through my high school journey, it’s really paid off,” Richard said. “I’m very thankful for the scholarship and everybody has helped me throughout the way. It means a lot to my family.”
Richard has caddied at Friar’s Head for the last four seasons and Lynch for the last three seasons. Richard’s father is the caddie master at the club, and Lynch’s uncle is also a caddie. In addition to being caddies, both played on Riverhead’s boy’s golf team.
Currently, 1,130 caddies are enrolled at 24 universities nationwide as Evans Scholars, according to the organization. More than 12,040 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since it was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr. in 1930, the organization said. It is the nation’s largest scholarship program for caddies, according to the organization.
“We are thrilled to welcome this new class to the Evans Scholars family,” Western Golf Association Chairman Steve Colnitis said in a statement. “Their dedication in the classroom, on the golf course and in their community represents what our Program has been about since 1930.”
“As partners, the Long Island Caddie Scholarship Fund and the Evans Scholarship Foundation are actively working together to provide opportunities within the local community,” Michael Sullivan, president of the Long Island Caddie Scholarship Fund, said in a statement. “Our Scholars are both deserving and driven, and we are proud to be able to contribute to their bright futures.”

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