Page 25 - Western Amateur 120th Championship Program 2022, Exmoor Country Club

Off to College: Two Exmoor Evans Scholars

Nala Bishop their three children. Nala was doing When Chris started looking for a job
her part—building up her resume by during high school, caddying made
Northwestern
University serving as president of the senior sense. Money was tight, and he was
Class of 2023 class, playing volleyball and facing the prospect of taking on
maintaining a sterling GPA—but tremendous debt to continue his
Major:
Human sending her to college still would’ve education. Where else could he
Development in been a heavy burden. make money, get some exercise, and
Context (HDC)
potentially earn a college scholarship?
Caddying at Exmoor gave Nala the final
push she needed. Eventually, she was Exmoor Country Club was just down
awarded an Evans Scholarship to the street from his family’s home in
Northwestern University. Now she’s Highwood. Chris completed 220
NALA BISHOP studying Human Development in loops over five years at the club,
Nala Bishop had never heard of Context, with plans to someday start getting to know the course and its
caddying when a counselor at Cristo her own practice providing young generous members.
Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School people with holistic therapy. “He’s an outstanding young man who
approached her about joining the She can still remember the feeling of cares about his community,” Exmoor
WGA Caddie Academy, a program finding out she was an Evans Scholar. caddie manager Eddie Gonzalez said.
that provides caddie opportunities to “He’s well liked by his fellow caddies
under-resourced high school students. “All the hours that I put in at school, and helps with the training of the new
the sacrifices that I had to make, it just
“I was like, ‘I don’t know what a caddie all paid off,” she said. “I was just so, so caddies every season.”
is, but it sounds interesting,’” Nala said. happy that I got it. It meant the world Eventually, Chris earned a life-changing
“And then she told me that it would be to me and my family.” opportunity—an Evans Scholarship to
working toward a full scholarship to the University of Minnesota.
college. My ears immediately perked
up at that.” Chris Cizek “I’m incredibly grateful to the Exmoor
members for supporting the Evans
She ended up spending three University of Scholars Program,” Chris says.
Minnesota
summers traveling from her home in
Lawrenceville, Georgia, to the Chicago Class of 2023 Chris is studying Fisheries, Wildlife and
suburbs, where she caddied at Exmoor Major: Conservation Biology at Minnesota. He
Country Club. Nala completed 120 Conservation plans to become a wildlife manager with
Biology the Department of Natural Resources
loops around the historic golf course
after graduation. In his spare time, he
during her time with the Caddie
Academy, learning about the game has the flexibility to pursue interesting
internships and participate in the ski
and building lasting relationships
with the members. and snowboard clubs.
“She’s an outstanding young woman,” CHRIS CIZEK
said Exmoor caddie manager Eddie Chris Cizek describes his background
Gonzalez. “She was quiet in the as “blue collar.”
caddyshack, but I could tell how
His father was a heating and air
smart she is by our conversations
conditioning repairman for 15 years
about how she wants to help kids
before he joined the city of Highland
like herself in the future.”
Park as a water treatment plant operator.
While she was caddying, Nala was also He had one grandfather who worked as
working her way toward college. Back a mechanic for 50 years, and another
in Georgia, her parents were doing who was a carpenter for almost as long.
everything they could to provide for

2022 Western Amateur Championship Introduction 23