Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/1345880
The Evans Scholars Invitational made its debut on the Korn Ferry Tour (formerly known as the Web.com Tour) in May 2019 at The Glen Club in Glenview, Illinois. The Korn Ferry Tour made unbelievable dreams come true for up-and-comer Scottie Scheffler, who won the inaugural 2019 Evans Scholars Invitational at The Glen Club in an exciting playoff. Scheffler is now a super-hot player to watch on the PGA TOUR and is a major fan favorite! The Evans Scholars Invitational will again be contested at The Glen Club this season on May 26–30, and general admission will be complimentary thanks to a partnership with SERVPRO of Glenview. All proceeds from the event will support the Evans Scholars Foundation's efforts to award full tuition and housing college scholarships to high-achieving caddies. This past year, 1,045 Evans Scholars were enrolled at 19 leading universities. Since its founding in 1930, more than 11,300 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars with a 95% graduation rate! The 2020 Evans Scholars Invitational was originally scheduled for May 20–24 at The Glen Club but was postponed until the second week in September due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Two years prior, Curtis Thompson had just about given up on his professional golf career. With only four cuts made in 13 starts on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2018, he lost his status and was back at square one. At that point, he started caddying for his sister, Lexi, on the LPGA Tour and at home at Pinetree Golf Club. Two years later at age 27, Thompson is back "on course" with the biggest win of his career at the 2020 Evans Scholars Invitational. Edging out Will Zalatoris and Jimmy Stanger by one stroke with a birdie on the final hole, Thompson won the event in an emotional finale and a victorious end to the demanding week. Nick Hardy, an Illinois native and fan favorite from Northbrook, Illinois is also expected to be back to compete in this year's event. Hardy, a professional golfer now 25, played college golf for the University of Illinois at Urbana– Champaign men's golf team. He turned pro in 2018 and has played at the professional level in the U.S. Open, the John Deere Classic, and most recently at the 2021 Sony Open in Hawaii with a four-round total score of 264 (69-63-66- 66) and earnings from this tournament of $113,850. Hardy is definitely a player to watch in 2021! The excitement is already ramping up for a superb professional golf season in 2021, as the next wave of future golf stars get ready to compete for a spot on the PGA TOUR at the 2021 Evans Scholars Invitational. GOLF NOW! Chicago 31