For 125 years, the Minnesota Golf Association has believed the game is only as strong as the people who play it.
That belief is at the core of the MGA Foundation, which for decades has worked to make golf more accessible and more inclusive for Minnesotans at every stage of life.
MGA Foundation scholarships are critical to that work. They’ve helped over a hundred student-athletes carry the lessons of the course into education and careers in communities across the state.
"Golf is much more than just a sport. Golf has given me skills and relationships that extend far beyond the golf course, and I will forever be grateful for that."
"Knowing that the MGA Foundation believes in my goals and is investing in my education is something I don't take for granted."
Both scholarships prove that golf shapes people, and those people deserve to be supported.
The Women's Scholarship has been backing young women heading into college since 1998, awarding nearly $1 million to more than 90 recipients across Minnesota.
Each year, five recipients are selected based on academic achievement, financial need, character, and their connection to the game. This year's class brings more stories to that legacy.
"Growing up with five older sisters, golf was the first thing that was only mine. I got to learn the sport by myself, and through that I started crafting who I am as a person."
Brynn Andrix, the 2026 MGA Foundation Minnesota Women’s Golf Association (MWGA) Memorial Women’s Scholar, is heading to Gustavus Adolphus College, focusing on elementary education, saw golf as something bigger than individual performance. As a five-seed
"Golf has shaped who I am by teaching me the value of building relationships and being part of a supportive community. Through the game, I have met so many amazing people who have encouraged me and helped me grow both on and off the course."
For Hanna, what started as a job working as a cart attendant at her home course became something much more.
"Over the past few years, I've worked my way up to becoming the Assistant Golf Professional. That experience has shown me that my passion isn't just playing golf, it's creating great experiences for others and helping grow the game."
Gabrielle Petersen, 2026 MGA Foundation Brackett’s Crossing Country Club Women's Scholar of Farmington, is heading to UW–Stevens Point to study Business, spoke to what the recognition meant for her as a woman in the game.
"Receiving this scholarship truly means the world to me and has shown me that my hard work and dedication to golf as a woman hasn't gone unseen. It's great to see support for women's golf in Minnesota for women like me."
"This scholarship is a great honor. I can further my education and focus on classes, while also having the opportunity to continue giving back to the golf community that I've learned so much from."
This year’s Women’s Scholarship recipients are supported by the following:
Brackett's Crossing Country Club
Hazeltine National Golf Club
Interlachen Country Club
The Minikahda Club
Minnesota Women's Golf Association
The Jim Mendesh Memorial Scholarship, launched in 2023, offers life-changing support to a new generation of student golfers seeking education at vocational or trade schools.
Elle Wahl joined her high school golf team during her sophomore year, drawn in by what she had observed from the outside.
Elle joyfully cried when she was selected for the scholarship. She feels a sense of gratitude, along with deep responsibility, as one of the early Mendesh scholars.
LaRissa, heading to Lake Superior College to pursue dental hygiene, felt that too.
"It is an honor to be an early recipient, as I know it will help pave the way for all future recipients. I hope they feel the same encouragement and support that I have received."
Elle added that each winner's journey looks a little different—and every obstacle becomes a chance to grow.
"Growth looks different for everyone. We all learn at our own pace, and that's okay. Mistakes are not failures; they are opportunities to learn, improve, and become better, whether in golf or in life."
These are students who found patience, confidence, community, and purpose in the game of golf.
Evelyn, who is heading to college in the Pacific Northwest, had a message for young women who might hesitate before stepping onto the course.
"There will be times when you are the only woman in an entire clubhouse of boys. That doesn't mean you don't deserve a chair."
That is exactly what the MGA Foundation's scholarships support, along with a golf community that believes in access, opportunity, and the love and long-term value of the game.
You can be part of what makes this possible with a gift to the MGA Foundation. Every contribution helps fund scholarships like these for the next generation of players finding their way into the game.