Chicago Highlands to host Evans Scholars Invitational
GLENVIEW, Ill. – The 2020 Evans Scholars Invitational – one of five tournaments that will make up the Korn Ferry Tour’s new fall schedule – will be held Sept. 9-13 at Chicago Highlands Club in Westchester, Illinois, Western Golf Association and Korn Ferry Tour officials announced today.
“We’re excited to be joining with Chicago Highlands to conduct the Evans Scholars Invitational in Chicago’s western suburbs this September,” said Vince Pellegrino, WGA senior vice president of tournaments. “This will be an outstanding venue for championship golf, and we join with the Korn Ferry Tour in looking forward to seeing golf’s future stars compete on such a quality layout.”
The Evans Scholars Invitational was originally scheduled for May 20-24 at The Glen Club, but was postponed until the second week in September due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pellegrino noted that the WGA and TOUR will continue to work with state and local officials in planning for a safe event for all involved, with the end goal remaining constant: raising much-needed funds for the Evans Scholars Foundation’s caddie scholarship program.
“We appreciate the ongoing efforts of our many partners and volunteers as we work toward tournament week, knowing we will only contest this event if deemed safe to do so under the guidance of public health authorities,” he said. “Safety is our top priority.”
Opened in 2010, Chicago Highlands features a links-style course built on 270 acres, by far the largest plot of land in the area for an 18-hole course. It was designed by world-renowned architect Arthur Hills, and features elevation changes of over 80 feet, dramatic views of the Chicago skyline, and a style that is reminiscent of a modernized links course in Scotland.
“We’re excited to have this opportunity to host the Evans Scholars Invitational and see some of the world’s finest up-and-coming golfers test our unique and challenging layout,” said Tom Healy, one of the managing partners of Chicago Highlands. “We’re equally thrilled to know that, through our partnership with the Western Golf Association, we’ll be helping to send more caddies to college on Evans Scholarships. We’re looking forward to a great week of championship golf and charitable fundraising.”
First held in 2019, the Evans Scholars Invitational provides the WGA with an added fundraising opportunity for the Evans Scholars Foundation, which offers full tuition and housing scholarships to deserving caddies across the nation. This past year, 1,010 Evans Scholars were enrolled at 18 universities. Since its founding in 1930, more than 11,050 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars.
“We conduct the Evans Scholars Invitational to raise funds and greater awareness for the Evans Scholars Foundation’s scholarship programs for caddies, and we’re fortunate that the TOUR has agreed to move forward with playing the event,” Pellegrino said.
Scottie Scheffler rallied from a six-shot deficit to claim his first Korn Ferry Tour title at the inaugural Evans Scholars Invitational at The Glen Club in 2019. The Korn Ferry Tour rookie defeated Marcelo Rozo in a playoff.
The win propelled Scheffler to a spot on the PGA TOUR, where he’s finding success in his rookie season. Scheffler – the 2019 Korn Ferry Tour Rookie and Player of the Year – has four top-10 finishes this year on the TOUR. He is 19th in the FedExCup Playoff standings, just ahead of Adam Scott and Jon Rahm.
The Korn Ferry Tour announced in early May additional modifications and details regarding the restart of the 2020 schedule and a fall calendar of events that will be part of a one-time, combined 2020-21 Korn Ferry Tour season.
The newly created 2020-21 Korn Ferry Tour schedule that will bridge two seasons will conclude with 25 PGA TOUR cards awarded at the 2021 WinCo Foods Portland Open presented by KraftHeinz, with an additional 25 cards awarded at the conclusion of the 2021 Korn Ferry Tour Finals.
The restart to the 2020 Korn Ferry Tour season will begin as previously announced with the Korn Ferry Challenge at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The event will now be one of four new events in the first six weeks back to play that have been created by the Tour to make up for the cancelation or postponement of events affected by COVID-19.