Anniversary in St. Louis: 20th BMW Championship kicks off with Pro-Am in support of Evans Scholars Foundation.

+++ Juliya Tabaka named seventh BMW Hole-in-One Scholar +++ Top 50 golfers on PGA TOUR go head-to-head for just 30 spots at the season final +++ A first: two BMW Hole-in-One cars to choose from +++ BMW Championship at Bellerive Country Club for first time since 2008 +++

Munich/St. Louis. The star-studded BMW Championship, the penultimate playoff tournament on the PGA TOUR, kicked off at Bellerive Country Club (St. Louis, Missouri) today with the traditional Garnder Heidrick Pro-Am. All funds raised from the sale of Pro-Am spots – as well as all proceeds from the tournament – support the Evans Scholars Foundation (ESF), a charity run by tournament organizers Western Golf Association. The ESF awards college scholarships to deserving caddies. Since 2007, when the BMW Championship made its debut, the foundation has received more than $63 million through the tournament, helping provide provide full tuition and housing scholarships to hard-working young caddies.

Juliya Tabaka of Manchester, Missouri, was named the latest BMW Hole-in-One Scholar at the Pro-Am. Tabaka will receive a full, four-year Evans Scholarship covering tuition and accommodation at the University of Missouri. BMW is awarding this scholarship thanks to Akshay Bhatia’s (USA) ace during the third round of last year’s BMW Championship at Caves Valley Golf Club (Owings Mills, Maryland).

“Akshay’s hole-in-one was an unforgettable moment, and its impact now extends far beyond the golf course,” said Sebastian Mackensen, President and CEO of BMW of North America. “Through our longstanding partnership with the Western Golf Association, BMW is proud to help Juliya and other deserving young caddies pursue their college dreams. We look forward to seeing all she accomplishes at Missouri and beyond.”

Tabaka, a former caddie at Bellerive Country Club, is the seventh recipient of a BMW Hole-in-One Scholarship. “Being named the BMW Hole-in-One Scholar means so much to me and my family,” Tabaka said. “My mom has made countless sacrifices to give my siblings and me every opportunity, and this scholarship will allow me to study animal sciences at the University of Missouri as I pursue my dream of becoming a veterinarian. I’m incredibly grateful and excited to thank Akshay in person for his incredible shot that helped make this possible.”

BMW will be funding another ESF full scholarship for the first hole-in-one in a tournament round again this year. If the player aces the 16^th hole, he will also be rewarded with a BMW car. Also, for the first time in tournament history, the sharpshooter will get to choose between models: the new BMW X5 and the all-electric BMW iX3, the first model of the BMW Neue Klasse.

The field at the 20^th anniversary tournament is once again made up of the top 50 golfers in the PGA Tour season standings, making it one of the strongest and most spectacular fields on display at a golf event. No fewer than 19 of the world’s top 20 pro players are competing, including defending champion Scottie Scheffler (USA), reigning Masters winner Rory McIlory (NIR), and defending FedExCup champion, Tommy Fleetwood (ENG). The BMW Championship is being held at Bellerive Country Club for the second time, after making its debut there in 2008. There will not be a cut, meaning that spectators can enjoy watching all 50 top players until Sunday. It is at this point that the field will be narrowed down again with only the top 30 players in the season standings after the BMW Championship being eligible to tee off at the final next week, the TOUR Championship in Atlanta (Georgia).