He may not know all the nuances of the sport, but golf is paying for Warsaw Community High School senior Scott Smyth's way through college.
On Feb. 15, Smyth found out that he was a recipient of an Evans Scholar Foundation Scholarship, which provides a full, four-year tuition and housing scholarship."My mom is especially excited," Smyth said about his mother, JoElla Smyth. "I am too, but it's not just about the money, it's about being a part of a network. Once I exit college, I can go anywhere in the nation and hook up with people who are former scholars."
One of those former scholars is John Elliott, a current director of the Western Golf Association, which helps fund the foundation, and a 1962 recipient of the scholarship, which was created by Chick Evans, Jr. in 1930.
"It's a wonderful program," Elliott said. "Ninety-two percent of the scholars graduate within four years. All 14 chapter houses have (grade point averages) in excess of 3.0."
Elliott, along with fellow WGA Directors Pete Smith and Tom Dormin, took their proposal to bringing the caddy program to the Tippecanoe Lake Country Club Board of Directors and pro Nick Marucci, who were receptive.
"Our hope is for the program to expand and have more kids apply for scholarships," Elliott said.
Smyth was the first TLCC caddy to receive the scholarship, and he'll be going to Purdue to major in biomedical engineering and minor, or double-major, in spanish.
Qualifying for the WGA's Evans Scholarship, the association looks at grades, financial need and a caddy having 100 rounds under his belt.
After TLCC adopted the caddy program, Smyth began working weekends at the club, and will be back at the club this summer to get his last 30 rounds.
"I was lucky to have Pete Smith and Tom Dormin," Smyth said. "Each time they come to the club, they allow me to caddy for them."
While he may be able to carry their clubs for them, golfers may not want any advice from Smyth on the course.
"I've never played before," Smyth said. "The most I've done is play putt-putt or go to the driving range with my dad."
So when a golfer asks for his thoughts on a certain shot, he has a simple answer for them.
"I usually tell them, 'Just go with your gut,'" Smyth said.
By receiving the scholarship, Smyth will live in an Evans Scholarship House on the Purdue campus, but he doesn't feel he'll be outmatched in golf knowledge.
"It's not uncommon for the scholars to not know much about golf," he said.
His lack of golf know-how is outweighed by his other extra-curricular activities, such as playing soccer, football and track this year, as well as serving on the IHSAA Student Advisory Committee, acting as a liasion between student-athletes and the IHSAA Executive Board.
"Extra curriculars are a big thing for the (WGA directors)," Smyth said. "They want you to show them you're involved and have a good chance of going on and being successful."
Smyth's drive wasn't only evident by caddying to receive the scholarship, but by also filling out the 20-page application.
"They wanted to know my transcript, financial needs, which required help from mom with all the taxes involved," he said. "There were also two essays about me and what I want to do, as well as why I'd be a good scholar."
After reviewing all the applications, the WGA directors called 10 applicants to the Country Club of Indianapolis, where they were grilled in front of the 60-plus directors.
"The first question they asked was what school you wanted to go to, then each director could raise his hand to ask a question," Smyth said. "It was almost like a press conference."
After each director had voted, Smyth received enough to get the full ride to Purdue.
As an Evans Scholar himself, Elliott is happy see another local product receive the honor, and knows only positives come from it.
"It's wonderful for kids to be in the network," Elliott said.
