Page 47 - Western Amateur 120th Championship Program 2022, Exmoor Country Club

Exmoor Members Who Are Evans Scholars Alumni
Fifteen Exmoor members earned an Evans Scholarship

ED BERNARDI: AN EVANS
Milt Newton Paul Binder
SCHOLAR REMEMBERS Northwestern University, 1949 (deceased) Indiana University, 1973 (deceased)
A crisp envelope arrived in the mail Edward Bernardi John Vitt
to the home at 296 Western Avenue in Northwestern University, 1952 Marquette University, 1973
Highwood. Seeing the return address Robert Alsteen Bud Lowell
University of Wisconsin, 1958 University of Wisconsin, 1975
of the Western Golf Association, the
18-year-old recipient opened it slowly, Joe Kadleck James Murphy
Marquette University, 1958 Marquette University, 1975
his heart pounding. The letter was
Vern Brunner John Saliba
dated August 12, 1948, a day that would
University of Wisconsin, 1963 (deceased) University of Kansas, 1980
forever change the life of a young
Don Murphy Robert Walter
caddie at Exmoor Country Club.
Northwestern University, 1964 (deceased) University of Wisconsin, 1986
“Dear Ed,” the letter began, “I am Sandy Browe Andrew Gooliak
very happy to advise you that the Marquette University, 1965 (deceased) Indiana University, 2007
Scholarship Committee has favorably Tom Kearney
University of Illinois, 1968
considered your application for
scholarship aid from the Evans Scholars
Foundation. The Committee would like
to offer you a full tuition scholarship.”
After some details, the letter was
signed by John C. Keenan, executive
vice president of the WGA.
Ed Bernardi, a caddie for eight years at
Exmoor, had been selected for an Evans
Scholarship to attend Northwestern
University, where he graduated in 1952.
After playing minor league baseball,
he built a successful company in the
financial services field.

Bernardi tells his Evans story and the
impact it had on his life with passion Caddie Day 1966
and gratitude: “In 1924, Exmoor
Country Club offered my father, my “In 1948, very few of my Highwood whatsoever. Can you imagine the
‘Pa,’ a full-time job as a laborer on friends went to college; thoughts of impact the scholarship had on the
its hallowed fairways. An Italian becoming anything other than a family? The award was the fulfillment
immigrant, ‘Pa’ spent the next 47 years laborer or a servant were exceptions. of their American Dream. To have won
working at this great club. Exmoor The idea of going to college was the scholarship for them was one of the
became his church, his America. incomprehensible to most boys proudest moments of my life.
and non-existent for the girls.
“We lived just north of the second tee “The scholarship enabled me to attend
and in 1939, at the age of 10, I made my “However, thanks to Exmoor members one of the greatest universities in the
first ‘loop.’ I was an Exmoor caddie! like J.P. Bowes (founder of the Par Club) country. It was the key that opened
Over the next decade, I caddied, worked and Ted Butz, I was awarded an Evans doors to places undreamed of by my
on the grounds and in the clubhouse. Scholarship to Northwestern University. parents and me. The Northwestern
Exmoor was my first experience outside No one in my immediate family had experience was the foundation upon
the small immigrant community of more than a few years of schooling. My which I built much of my personal and
Highwood, Illinois. father had only four years of school, professional life.
and my mother had no schooling

2022 Western Amateur Championship Chick, the Caddies and the Scholars 45