News & Events

A hallmark of the Norfolk Academy educational experience is the growth and development of Bulldog student-athletes.

That growth stems from the core belief that for every student, the integration of the physical, mental, and social that naturally occurs within a sports environment has the potential to transcend differences, create community, and build leaders.

Evan Beck '09 is just one example of the success of Norfolk Academy's athletics model. Almost 16 years after graduating, Beck continues to shine in both athletics and business. He is an Associate Portfolio Manager at Brown Advisory in Washington, D.C., and ranked 32nd by World Amateur Golf, good enough to compete on the sport's biggest stages in 2025.

On September 26, 2024, Beck, a Virginia Beach native, defeated Bobby Massa at the 43rd U.S. Mid-Amateur final at Kinloch Golf Club in Manakin-Sabot, Virginia. With his decisive win, Beck earned an exemption into the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania, as well as an invitation to the Masters in April in Georgia and a spot on the prestigious 2025 Walker Cup Team. 

Organized by the USGA as the leading annual golf tournament in the United States for post-college amateur golfers, the Mid-Amateur schedule consists of two days of stroke play followed by knockout match play with the top 64 competitors. Beck's margin of victory in the final was the event's largest since 2005.

As a runner-up in the 2023 tournament, this victory was especially sweet, as Beck said immediately after his triumph. 

“To get all the way there and come up short is gut-wrenching," he said. "To be able to push through and prove that you can do it yourself, more than anything, it’s pretty awesome.”

Making the victory even sweeter, Beck gained honors as the first golfer from the Commonwealth of Virginia to raise the trophy.

Beck, 34, is no stranger to receiving accolades for his golf acumen. As a 2013 Cum Laude graduate of Wake Forest University with a degree in finance, he was named a GolfWeek and GCAA PING All-American twice, along with twice-earning All-ACC honors.

- Article written by Nancy Chandler '23

- Photo courtesy USGA