Sept. 5, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
J. WOOD PLATT INDUCTED INTO CADDIE HALL OF FAME
DURING BMW CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK FESTIVITIES
PHILADELPHIA, PA – J. Wood Platt, one of the most influential
figures in the history of the Golf Association of Philadelphia, was inducted
into the Caddie Hall of Fame during a ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 4, ahead of
the 2018 BMW Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in
Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.
Platt, who died in 1959 at the age of 61, was honored
for devoting his life to the game of golf through his support of the role of
youth caddies. J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Chairman Jonathan Warner
attended the event at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and
accepted a bronze caddie statuette on Platt’s behalf.
After a decorated amateur golf career, Platt worked
with GAP to found the J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust in 1958. Since
then, more than 3,500 young men and women have received $21 million in
financial aid. During the 2017-18 academic year, 165 caddies received more than
$1.15 million in aid.
For the past five years, the J. Wood Platt Caddie
Scholarship Trust has partnered with the Western Golf Association’s Evans
Scholars Foundation to award full tuition and housing Platt Evans Scholarships
to caddies from the Philadelphia area. This fall, nine Platt Evans Scholars
from GAP clubs are enrolled at Penn State University.
Proceeds from the 2018 BMW Championship, which will
be played Sept. 6-9, will be used to fund Platt Evans Scholarships and
establish a Scholarship House at Penn State.
"J. Wood Platt’s devotion to youth caddying has had a
life-changing impact on thousands of Philadelphia-area caddies, past and
present," said Frank Morley, the chairman of the WGA, which administers the
Caddie Hall of Fame. "His famous phrase, ÔGive them all a chance,’ spoke to the
promise he believed all young caddies held if they were given the opportunity
to earn a quality education."
In addition to being a tireless advocate for the role
of caddies in the game of golf, Platt was one of the premier players of his
era.
His seven GAP Amateur championships remain a record,
and he captured 11 GAP major titles during a career that spanned decades. He
has the distinction of winning the inaugural USGA U.S. Senior Amateur
Championship, defeating George Studinger, 5&4, at
Belle Meade Country Club in Nashville, Tenn., in 1955.
"J. Wood Platt generously volunteered his time and
funds to enhance the game of golf," Warner said. "It is an honor for him to be
inducted into the Caddie Hall of Fame, joining Chick Evans and Francis Ouimet. These three men were teammates and competitors on
the golf course, forever remembered as advocates for caddies to earn a college
education."
Administered by the WGA since 2011, the Caddie Hall
of Fame highlights the tradition of caddying by recognizing individuals who
have used their caddie experiences as a steppingstone for future success, have
devoted their lives to the game of golf through caddying or have supported the
role of caddies.
Past inductees include Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson,
Charles "Chick" Evans, Francis Ouimet, Steve
Williams, Jim "Bones" Mackay, the Murray Brothers and Peter Ueberroth.
About the Evans Scholars Foundation
Established by famed amateur golfer Charles "Chick"
Evans Jr., the Evans Scholars Foundation provides full housing and tuition
scholarships to high-achieving caddies across the country. The Program, which
is administered by the Western Golf Association, is funded by contributions
from more than 31,800 Evans Scholars Par Club members, including Evans Scholars
Alumni, as well as proceeds from the BMW Championship. Since the Program’s
inception in 1930, more than 10,600 caddies nationwide have graduated as Evans
Scholars. To learn more, visit www.wgaesf.org.
About the J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust
The J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust provides
annual scholarship grants of up to $10,000. Currently there are 165 Platt
Scholars. In the 2017-18 academic year, the Trust awarded more than $1 million,
thanks to the generosity of golfers from greater Philadelphia.
The J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust, founded
in 1958, receives contributions from more than 4,000 golfers and businesses
each year. The Trust has awarded college scholarships to more than 3,500
deserving golf caddies and is the official charity of the Golf Association of
Philadelphia, founded in 1897. Visit www.plattcaddiescholarship.org for more
information.
About the BMW Championship
The BMW Championship dates back to 1899 when it
debuted as the Western Open, making it the third- oldest tournament on the PGA
TOUR schedule, behind only the British Open and U.S. Open. BMW has sponsored
the tournament since 2007 when it became the penultimate event of the PGA
TOUR’s FedExCup Playoffs. The BMW Championship
features a field of 70 players to determine the final 30 players for the FedExCup finale at the TOUR Championship in Atlanta. Since
2007, the BMW Championship has contributed more than $27 million to the Evans
Scholars Foundation, the event’s charitable beneficiary. To learn more, visit
www.bmwchampionship.com.