WOODBURN, ORE. – Michelle Torres, a senior at the Wellness, Business and Sports School (WeBSS) through Woodburn High School in Woodburn, Ore., recently became the first recipient of the Evans Scholarship to come out of the OGA Golf Course. Becoming an Evans Scholar awards Michelle with a full-ride scholarship to the University of Oregon, beginning in the fall of 2017. We spoke with Michelle to learn more about her relationship with golf, how caddying has affected her moving forward, and her future plans at the University of Oregon.
OGA: How did you find out about the Evans Scholarship?
Michelle: I found out about the Evans Scholarship through my coach, [Coach] Wilhelm. He introduced me to it my sophomore year of high school and told me that I was the perfect candidate for it. He then brought me to John [Grothe], the head pro at the golf course, because John has already had a lot of experience with how the scholarship works. We then had a little meeting in the conference room at the OGA with my coach, John, my mother, and I.
OGA: Prior to beginning your quest for the scholarship, what was your experience with golf and/or caddying?
Michelle: I had no prior experience with caddying before the scholarship but I had already started playing golf by then. I started playing for the first time ever as a freshman for my high school team. The reason why I joined was because my coach, [Coach] Wilhelm was also my teacher, and during conferences once he mentioned to my mother and I that I should try out for golf because it could open a lot of doors for me and could possibly even offer me a summer job there. To be honest, having that summer job was one of the main reasons why I started golf because working at a golf course sounded like fun – which it was. I got a job there the summer going into my junior year which was perfect because that was the time when I started to caddy and got to familiarize myself with the people at the golf course.
OGA: What did you enjoy most about caddying?
Michelle: What I enjoyed most was just meeting a bunch of down to earth people who genuinely wanted to help me and see me succeed. Everyone who I caddied for didn’t have to help me but they did it out of the kindness of their heart and I really truly appreciate it.
OGA: Has caddying made you more interested in the game of golf? If so, how?
Michelle: Well I always had an interest in golf before I even started applying for the scholarship but it has, for one, improved my game. Before I started caddying, I wouldn’t pay attention to yardages and I didn’t even know how to read lines for putts. Just little things like that. But once I started caddying, I started applying a lot of the skills and knowledge that I gained from caddying to my own game.
OGA: What was your reaction when you found out you were named an Evans Scholar?
Michelle: After the interview, the scholarship committee told us that we should expect news from them by the following Thursday. So I was anxiously waiting day after day for that letter which never seemed to come. Thursday came by and still no letter so I was starting to get worried. I didn’t think I got it. The next day I didn’t even go to the mail box so I just went into my room and started to change for practice when I hear my mom running up the stairs saying, “You got a letter, you got a letter”! I then open my door and I see my mom and my brother there telling me to open it. I opened it and see the words congratulations. As soon as I read that I just started crying and my mom started crying too. I was just so excited and relieved and most importantly proud of what I had achieved.
OGA: What are you most looking forward to when you begin college?
Michelle: College is going to be such a drastic change for me. I am going to have to depend on myself and adapt to all the changes that are going to come my way – however, this change is going to be good. I feel like what I am looking forward to most is starting the next chapter in my life.
OGA: What are you planning on studying at the University of Oregon?
Michelle: I am planning on studying some sort of science as I am interested in a career in the medical field.
OGA: Has your experience as a caddy influenced your life as a whole? If so, how?
Michelle: This scholarship has brought me closer to golf. Golf has now become such a huge part of my life and it has changed it for the better. The experiences and connections made will forever impact my life. I will be forever grateful of the opportunity given to me and the help and support that was given to me as well. I can finally make worth of all the sacrifices my parents have made to get me here.