GLENVIEW, Illinois – The 2019 BMW Championship at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Illinois, raised a record $4.4 million for caddie scholarships, the Western Golf Association announced today.
Exceptional support from BMW, Medinah Country Club, the local corporate community, and Chicago-area golf fans led to the BMW Championship’s largest ever contribution to the Evans Scholars Foundation. It topped the previous mark of $3.7 million raised during the 2018 BMW Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. Since 2007, the BMW Championship has contributed more than $35 million to the event’s sole charity, the Evans Scholars Foundation.
“We were honored this past year to have worked with generous, hardworking partners at BMW and Medinah,” said Vince Pellegrino, WGA Senior Vice President of Tournaments. “Their efforts and the presence of thousands of golf fans who came out to our championships all helped us enjoy this exceptional year of giving back to golf by funding college scholarships for deserving caddies.”
Conducted by the WGA, the 2019 BMW Championship attracted more than 130,000 spectators to Medinah Country Club from August 13-18 to see the PGA TOUR’s best compete in the penultimate event of the FedExCup Playoffs. Justin Thomas took home both the BMW Championship Trophy and the historic J.K. Wadley Trophy, with a record-breaking 25-under par, carding a 263 total for the 72-hole championship.
Funds raised during the 2019 BMW Championship will assist in funding full tuition and housing college scholarships for caddies. This year, a record 1,010 caddies are enrolled as Evans Scholars at 18 leading universities nationwide.
“During this season of giving, we’re proud to donate the proceeds from the BMW Championship to such a deserving cause,” Pellegrino said. “With continued support from BMW, as well as Chicago and Midwest golf fans, and the local and regional corporate communities, we’re looking forward to another successful BMW Championship at Olympia Fields next year.”
Olympia Fields Country Club, in Olympia Fields, Illinois, will host the 2020 BMW Championship from August 18-23. For individual tickets and corporate hospitality options, visit www.bmwchampionship.com.
About the BMW Championship
The BMW Championship dates back to 1899 when it debuted as the Western Open, making it the third-oldest tournament on the PGA TOUR schedule, behind only the British Open and U.S. Open. BMW has sponsored the tournament since 2007 when it became the penultimate event of the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Playoffs. The BMW Championship features a field of the top 70 players in the FedExCup standings to determine the final 30 players for the FedExCup final at the TOUR Championship in Atlanta. Since 2007, the BMW Championship has contributed more than $35 million to the Evans Scholars Foundation, the event’s charitable beneficiary. To learn more, visit www.bmwchampionship.com.
About the Western Golf Association
The Western Golf Association conducts six national golf championships and supports the nationally acclaimed Evans Scholars Foundation. Headquartered in Glenview, Illinois, the organization was founded in 1899 by 11 Chicago-area golf clubs to promote their interests in golf. In addition to the BMW Championship, the WGA conducts four prestigious amateur championships, the Western Amateur, the Western Junior, and the Women’s Western Golf Association’s Amateur and Junior championships. The WGA also conducts the Evans Scholars Invitational on the Korn Ferry Tour. To learn more, visit www.wgaesf.og.
About the Evans Scholars Foundation
Established by famed amateur golfer Charles Chick Evans Jr. and the Western Golf Association, the Evans Scholars Foundation provides full housing and tuition college scholarships to high-achieving caddies from across the country. The Program, supported by the WGA, is funded through contributions from more than 32,500 donors nationwide, including Evans Scholars Alumni, as well as proceeds from WGA championships. Since the Program’s inception in 1930, more than 11,000 caddies nationwide have graduated as Evans Scholars. To learn more, visit www.wgaesf.og.
