Lincoln-Way East senior awarded Chick Evans Scholarship for caddying

Abby Noonen, a senior at Lincoln-Way East, was awarded the WGA’s Chick Evans Scholarship, which is given to caddies. She is one of likely 300 students that will receive the scholarship this year.

The scholarship is a four-year housing and tuition scholarship that is valued at an estimated $120,000 and according to a press release is the nation’s largest privately funded scholarship program. Currently, 1,045 caddies are enrolled as Evans Scholars at 19 colleges across the nation, and more than 11,320 have graduated as such.

Noonen is a caddie at Crystal Tree Golf and Country Club in Orland Park.

“The scholarship means a lot to me and my family,” she said. “I always knew that I would need help to pay for college and it truly means a lot to have this opportunity to take the financial burden off my parents, because they want to help. It allows me the opportunity to purse a college degree.”

Noonen is still in the process of choosing her school, narrowing down her top four and waiting to hear back.

Noonen also said the scholarship process of applying and interviewing has been easy so far as the scholarship representatives have been helpful.

“When I found out that I was receiving an interview and then hearing back was super quick,” she said. “During that time, it can be stressful, but they were helpful and very quick and efficient after the interview.”

Noonen learned about the scholarship as her uncle caddied and received the scholarship, as well as her older brother, Connor, who received it three years ago.

Noonen will have caddied at Crystal Tree for five years this coming summer and aside from enjoying and learning for herself, she has liked coaching the younger caddies at the country club.

“I tend to try and help them because when you’re a rookie, it can be vey stressful and nerve-wracking,” she said. “Overall as a caddie, you learn so many things and have to have patience through the caddying experience.”

Caddying at her country club is different that some would deem a typical “caddie.” Noonen, instead of carrying the golfer’s clubs, runs out in front of the golfer’s shot and tracks where it goes and marks it for them before running ahead for the next shot. Once they are on the green, she can clean their clubs, fix divots and assist on reading the green.

“The best part of the job is the people there,” she said. “A lot of the golfers are so friendly. Golfers tend to make the round (more fun) because you’re running in the 90-degree heat, and they’ll tell stories”

Her favorite memory was when one golfer who was back-and-forth on his round all day made a good shot and jokingly told Noonen, “This is when you tell me I’m the best golfer you know.” Later on, he it another good shot so Noonen asked, “Is this the time when I tell you you’re the best golfer I know?”

And because of experiences like that and caddying in general, it has helped her come out of her shell. Noonen said she is shy, but caddying is helping her be more social. And even during the interview process, she did not pretend to be something she’s not.

“I just stayed true to myself and didn’t make things up about myself, and I expressed how I wanted to be involved.”

To maintain the scholarship, the caddies are asked to to show extra commitment to the course and participate in Chick Evans events in the future.