After acing the par-three 17th during the third round of the BMW Championship, Akshay Bhatia walked to the green and took the ball out of the hole. He gave a fist bump to the flag tender, Joe Mayal.
Mayal, who said the moment was “so cool,” was only there because of the Evans Scholarship. The University of Maryland sophomore is one of 21 Evans Scholars enrolled at Maryland, and one of the few that earned the honor of spending last week at Caves Valley Golf Club.
“It’s been really cool just getting to know a bunch of people that go to different schools, kind of talk to them [and] see how their chapter does things,” Mayal said. “This week for me has connected me even more with the scholarship and I’ve just been able to do so many cool things, meet so many cool people. I’m just so grateful to be here.”
The Evans Scholarship, started in 1930, is a full housing and tuition college scholarship awarded to golf caddies with limited financial means, selected based on excellent grades, outstanding character and strong caddie record, according to the Western Golf Association Evans Scholars Foundation website.
Individuals who complete the three-summer WGA Caddie Academy program qualify to apply. Mayal, from Bethpage, N.Y., was one of those.
Mayal started caddying the summer after his freshman year of high school at Garden City Golf Club on Long Island. He grew up around golf and has played the game his entire life. Caddying felt “second nature” to him.
Mayal’s boss at Garden City Golf Club drew his attention to the Evans Scholarship.
“When I found out about the whole Evans Scholars foundation, I was immediately drawn to it naturally,” Mayal said.
Mayal didn’t think the scholarship would ever work out but threw his hat in the ring because “it couldn’t hurt.” A couple months after applying, he received a letter saying he’d been granted an interview.
(Photo Credit: WGA/BMW Championship)
Mayal said he was so nervous he was shaking. The 15-minute interview flew by.
“I found out a week later I was an Evans Scholar,” Mayal said. “Just couldn’t be more thankful to the WGA and everyone who’s helped me along the way. It’s been awesome.”
The Evans Scholars work in partnership with the foundation to determine the scholars’ college. There are currently 27 universities to choose from, with priority given based on location. For Mayal, the closest places for him were Maryland and Rutgers University. He went with the former.
After spending his freshman year in the newly built Pyon-Chen Hall, Mayal will begin living at Maryland’s Caves Valley Evans Scholarship House at 4603 College Ave. in the fall. The house was officially dedicated at the start of BMW Championship week.
Mayal said one of his highlights of the tournament was caddying for Justin Rose in the Pro-Am, easily the most famous people Mayal has caddied. Their initial interaction was a memorable one.
When Rose was on the driving range, Mayal walked up to him and that sparked a greeting and a challenge from the PGA Tour’s No. 9 golfer. Rose gave Mayal fake cups to put on the green, asking him to predict where the pins would be placed for the tournament. Rose told Mayal he was pretty accurate.
“He was awesome, he was super cool,” Mayal said. “He was super genuine, very engaging. … It was the coolest experience.”
But arguably his favorite experience came Saturday, when he got the pin for the Rickie Fowler-Taylor Pendrith grouping.
“[Fowler] made a putt, and as he was walking off the green, he gave me a fist bump,” Mayal said. “I told him I was a big fan. He went right into his bag, grabbed a pen, signed a ball and threw it to me.”
While Mayal said his days as a caddie will be over after the summer, golf will always be a part of his life. He will continue golfing at the University of Maryland Golf Course. He has a college house thanks to the Evans Scholars Foundation. He has eternal memories from the BMW Championship. He is forever thankful for that.
Photo Credit: WGA/BMW Championship