Sean Casey, 18, attended his first day of college classes at the University of Wisconsin in Madison on Sept. 2. Like many college students, Casey’s path included plenty of hard work. Unlike many college students, it also included plenty of time on the golf course.
Casey, who was awarded a full scholarship by the Evans Scholars Foundation, was in eighth grade when his parents sat him down and told him about being a caddy and the opportunity to be awarded an Evans Scholarship, which is awarded to deserving golf caddies.
“In 2010 to 2011, when we were getting a divorce, we were already losing the house, along with some other financial issue,” said his mother, Anne Casey. “That really made us afraid the boys wouldn’t be able to afford college. With the boys’ love of golf, we decided it might be the key to their college future.”
Recipients of the Evans Scholarship must show financial need, a good academic record and demonstrate both character and leadership, and a solid record of at least two years of caddying.
In spring 2010, Casey got a job caddying at Knollwood Club in Lake Forest. He’d show up at 6:30 a.m. and his name would be put in a bin. Being low in seniority, there was no guarantee he would caddy on any given day.
“You might just sit in the caddy shack,” Casey said. “There were days in eighth grade when I would sit from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and not get out. It helps develop your character in a sense. You learn how to deal with sitting around for a while and knowing you’re doing it for a scholarship four years later.”
Over time, Casey ascended from a B caddy – who carries one bag – to an A caddy – who carries two bags. He also cleaned golf balls, pulled tees and kept track of where the golf balls of clients landed.
“There are bag carriers and caddies,” said John McGowan, caddy master at the Knollwood Club. “It’s the difference between an A student and a C student. A caddy can read the green, get the proper yardage. The dedication level is higher; they’re here every day and know the golf course from head to toe – which Sean basically embodied.”
Over time, Casey rose to honor caddy. In addition to his other responsibilities, players turned to him for advice. Casey was prepared to offer it, having played on the golf team at Lake Forest High School for four years and as captain his senior year.
“A good caddy can help your round by three to five strokes,” McGowan said. “I had the pleasure of playing with Sean and his brother in a Western Golf Association tournament. [Casey’s] golf acumen is as good as his caddy acumen. We turned in second place.”
Casey also kept up his grades at Lake Forest High School with a 4.9 grade point average on a 5-point scale and scored 30 on his ACT.
In August 2014, he filled out the application for the Evans Scholarship along with tax forms to show financial need. In November, he found out he was a finalist. He was interviewed in an auditorium in downtown Chicago on Dec. 9.
“I was at a podium in front of 125 Western Golf Association people,” Casey said. “Knowing [there was] a full ride on the line made it all the more stressful. At the same time, I was confident of my qualifications. I took a couple of deep breaths and prayed about it and was just myself at the podium.”
On Dec. 13, he received a letter. When applying, he listed his top three schools of choice with the University of Wisconsin as his top choice, followed by two Illinois schools.
“They choose from the list I give them,” Casey said. “Most kids who get the scholarship in Illinois go to an Illinois school. When I opened the letter, I was 95-percent sure I would go to the University of Illinois.”
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He was wrong. The letter said he’d get to attend the University of Wisconsin under the scholarship, which pays the full cost of tuition and housing for four years. Casey said that while he would have found a way to pay for college, he likely wouldn’t be attending the University of Wisconsin without the scholarship.
“My father went here and I grew up a huge Badgers fan,” Casey said. “The business school is really great and the program I want to go into. With out-of-state tuition at the price it is, there is no way I could have gone here without a scholarship.”
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