The Joe Cheves Junior Invitational tournament committee will generously award three college scholarships each year for deserving student-athletes. The Joe Cheves Junior Invitational is proud to offer the Joe Cheves Memorial Scholarship, the Eddie Erwin Memorial Scholarship, and the Mimosa Hills - Dan Dobson Scholarship. The Cheves Memorial goes to an outstanding senior young man or woman competing in the Joe Cheves Junior Invitational. The Erwin Memorial and the Mimosa-Dobson Scholarships go each year to deserving Burke County students, who may or may not be competing in the Joe Cheves Junior.

Joe Cheves Memorial Scholarship
Joe Cheves spent a lifetime in the game of game. He began caddying, at age seven, at Cheraw Country Club in South Carolina. He turned pro at age 19 and embarked on an illustrious career as a club professional and competitor in the Carolinas PGA Section, as well as PGA Tour events and USGA championships. Cheves was a member of the PGA of America for 70 years. He was a consultant, teacher, diplomat, businessman, friend, and playing partner, reaching legendary status in all categories.

In 1978, at age 60, Cheves finished tied for first in the oldest major championship in professional senior golf, the Senior PGA Championship. Cheves played in two U.S. Opens, two PGA Championships, 10 PGA Senior Championships, and three U.S. Senior Opens.

On Aug. 27, 1999 Cheves set a confirmed world record, touring the 6,250 yard Mimosa layout in 64 strokes (8-under), which calculated to 17 shots under his age of 81. On April 6, 2006, Cheves again went 17 under his age with a two-under 70 at age 87. He first shot his age in 1982, when he was 64, and he bettered his age over a thousand times in his golf career.
He has membership in the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, the Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame, the Carolinas PGA Hall of Fame, and the Burke County Sports Hall of Fame
Joe Cheves passed away on July 31, 2007. His memory and legacy will live on with the Joe Cheves Junior Invitational and the Joe Cheves Memorial Scholarship.

It will be presented each year to a high school senior, and qualified playing competitor in the Joe Cheves Junior Invitational. The criteria for this scholarship is simple, to be like Joe Cheves. The recipient must prove exemplary character and integrity, display a genuine desire to help others, exhibit a dedication to, and love of, the game of golf, and possess the desire and ability to play golf at the highest level.

Recipients- Joe Cheves Memorial Scholarship (est. 2007)
2007 Taylor Zimmerman (UNC-Wilmington)
2008 Mitchell McGlamery (USC-Aiken)
2009 Andrew Knox (UNC-Greensboro)
2010 Andrew Decker (NC State)

Eddie Erwin Memorial Scholarship
Eddie Erwin was a promising junior golfer at Mimosa Hills in the early 1970’s. He was the son of the late Lawrence “E” Erwin and Betty “Bangs” Erwin. In 1973, at age 15, a motor scooter accident left him blind and severely injured. Eddie recovered the best he could. He graduated from North State Academy in Hickory in 1977, and earned a business degree from St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg in 1981.

He would eventually play golf again. He won several blind golf tournaments, including the 1985 Canadian Blind Championship. He finished runnerup twice in the United States Blind Championship and third once. Eddie was a regular participant in the Ken Venturi Guiding Eyes Golf Classic at Mt. Kisco CC in New York for many years.
An accomplished guitar and banjo player, Eddie Erwin passed away in 1988, at age 29, from lymphoma. The Joe Cheves Junior is honored to present this scholarship in his name.

Applicants must be a Burke County student, with an interest in the game of golf. They must meet the Committee's requirement of outstanding character, citizenship, ambition and leadership potential.

Recipients- Eddie Erwin Memorial Scholarship (est. 2006)
2006 Brennan Davis (Savannah State)
2007 Brett Sprehe (NC State) and Walton Stephens (NC State)
2008 Drew Bowers (Appalachian State)
2009 Taylor Carpenter (Montreat College)
2010 Grey Miller

Mimosa Hills - Dan Dobson Scholarship
In its grand and glorious history, Mimosa Hills Country Club has meant so much to so many and has greatly influenced the lives of many people, young and old, in Morganton and Burke County. Mimosa Hills is a golf club with a treasured history, beginning with its construction in 1929. Members have come and gone through the years, and each of them has fond memories of their days spent on the Hills of Mimosa.

Dan Dobson assumed the Mimosa Hills head professional duties from Joe Cheves in 1981. One of the most respected golf professionals in the Carolinas, Dobson has been an exemplary PGA professional. It’s only fitting that a scholarship bear the name of this truly great golf club and its head professional for the past 28 years.

Applicants must be a Burke County student, with an interest in the game of golf. They must meet the Committee's requirement of outstanding character, citizenship, ambition and leadership potential.

Recipients- Mimosa Hills-Dan Dobson Scholarship (est. 2006)
2006 Carlee Lindell (North Carolina)
2007 Samantha Patton (Mars Hill College / Appalachian State)
2008 Daniel Strauss (Lees McRae College)
2009 Chase Highley (Warner College)
2010 Jeff Stainback (WPCC)