Female Caddy From Sebonack Earns Full Ride To University Of Maryland After Winning Chick Evans Scholarship

When Abbey Sisler first began working as a caddy at Sebonack Golf Club three years ago, she did not know much about golf.

By taking the job, she was following in a family tradition — both her father and brother had worked as caddies at Friar’s Head in Baiting Hollow. Still, she had a lot to learn. To illustrate that point, she admitted she did not even know what the word “par” meant in those early days.

But Sisler did not let her relative inexperience intimidate her, and ultimately, her determination to learn paid off.

Sisler, who graduated from Shoreham/Wading River High School in June, will head to the University of Maryland this fall on a full ride, after becoming one of several high school caddies across the country to earn the Chick Evans Scholarship.

The Western Golf Association has been offering the Chick Evans Scholarship — named in honor of the hall of fame golfer who won the U.S. Open in 1916 — since 1930, and has been making an effort in recent years to expand its program, based in the Midwest, to eligible students on the East Coast. Sebonack Golf Club has partnered with the organization to support that effort, and Sisler is the first Sebonack caddy to earn the scholarship.

To be eligible for the scholarship, students must complete a certain number of rounds of caddying at a participating club, working full-time in the summer for several years, and also demonstrate both academic excellence and financial need. In addition to trying to expand the program’s reach outside of the Midwest — which also involves getting more colleges to participate — the WGA is also interested in attracting more female and minority candidates, according to Ed Brockner, the vice president of east region development for the WGA.

“We’re extremely focused on giving more young women the opportunity to get this scholarship,” Brockner said, adding that the WGA has a caddy scholar prep program to actively recruit and train potential scholars to help them get jobs as caddies at participating clubs.

Having a shot at earning the scholarship was a big part of the reason why Sisler pursued a job caddying at Sebonack. Her older brother, Camden, is also an Evans Scholar, and is a rising junior at Northwestern University.

By going to work at Sebonack, Sisler was, in a way, “blazing her own trail,” according to Brockner. She chose a club that has demonstrated a commitment to giving women a chance to work as caddies, typically a male dominated field. Sisler is one of five female caddies at the club.

Sisler proved herself to be a quick study, both as a caddy and even in picking up the clubs herself. She learned to play and joined her high school team, ultimately competing in the county tournament. She gave credit to several members at Sebonack for taking her under their wing and showing her the ropes. She said she’s glad she took a leap of faith and tried something new.

“Being a caddy is so life changing and being involved with the Evans community is, too, because they give you so much,” she said.

Sisler not only faced down the intimidation factor of a steep learning curve when she became a caddy, but she also overcame the adversity of undergoing back surgery and subsequent rehabilitation to address issues with a diagnosis of scoliosis she received when she was just 7 years old. She had surgery as a freshman and, after a long healing process, was able to make a full recovery.

Sisler plans to study special education at Maryland.

Staff members at Sebonack have high praise for Sisler and have been particularly impressed by how far she has come in a relatively short period of time, and with the work ethic she’s displayed.

“She’s one of the first people to get here every day, she has a great personality and her work ethic proved to me that she could do this,” said Sebonack caddymaster Jason Bungee. “She started out green, and she really learned by doing the job.”

He added that several members have remarked on Sisler’s ability to accurately read the greens at Sebonack, one of the highest compliments a caddy can earn.

While earning the scholarship represents the achievement of a goal Sisler had in mind when she first pursued the caddy job at Sebonack three years ago, Bungee said she has displayed the same level of commitment to the job since getting the news that she was chosen as an Evans scholar.

“She still shows up on time and works hard, and she respected Sebonack for helping her out,” he said.

Sisler has advice for any other high school students with an interest in caddying who are looking to maximize their opportunity to attend college and make it more affordable: Don’t be afraid to take a leap of faith.

“To any youth caddy who might have considered caddying but is nervous about it, just go for it,” she said. “It’s really worth it. Everyone is there to support you. You can start from scratch and really grow on the course. It’s a really good position to put yourself in.”