BMW of North America and WGA Name Juliya Tabaka Newest BMW Hole-In-One Scholar

• Tabaka receives Evans Scholarship following Akshay Bhatia’s ace at the 2025 BMW Championship.

St. Louis, MO  – August 19, 2026… BMW of North America and the Western Golf Association announced today that Juliya Tabaka of Manchester, Missouri, has been named the newest BMW Hole-in-One Scholar. Tabaka will receive a full, four-year Evans Scholarship covering tuition and housing at the University of Missouri as a result of Akshay Bhatia’s ace during the third round of the 2025 BMW Championship at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Maryland.

Tabaka, a caddie at Bellerive Country Club, is the seventh recipient of a BMW Hole-in-One Scholarship, which awards a full tuition and housing grant to a deserving young caddie in the name of the first player to record a hole-in-one during tournament play at the BMW Championship. This year’s celebration will be especially meaningful because the 2026 BMW Championship will be held at Bellerive Country Club, where Tabaka caddied.

“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.”

Since 2007, the BMW Championship has raised $63 million for the Evans Scholars Foundation, the event’s sole charity, helping to send more than 4,860 caddies to college. This year marks the 20-year anniversary of the partnership between BMW and the WGA/ESF.

Tabaka had the chance to meet Bhatia and thank him in person at the 2026 BMW Championship at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis on Tuesday, Aug. 18.

“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.”

During the 2026-27 academic year, a record 1,310 caddies will be enrolled at 28 universities nationwide as Evans Scholars.

“We are incredibly grateful to BMW for its continued commitment to creating life-changing opportunities for Evans Scholars,” said WGA President and CEO John Kaczkowski. “Juliya has demonstrated the work ethic, academic achievement and character we look for in every Evans Scholar. It is especially fitting to recognize her at Bellerive, where she has caddied, and we know she will make the most of this opportunity at the University of Missouri.”

Previous BMW Hole-in-One Scholarship recipients include:

• Diana Llamas (2022): Named in honor of Viktor Hovland, who aced the second hole during the final round of the 2022 BMW Championship at Wilmington Country Club in Wilmington, Delaware.
• Brooklyn Gabriel (2017): Named in honor of Jason Day, who aced the 17th hole during the second round of the 2017 BMW Championship at Conway Farms Golf Club in Lake Forest, Illinois.
• Hayden Bauschka (2015):  Named in honor of Jordan Spieth, who aced the second hole during the first round of the 2015 BMW Championship at Conway Farms Golf Club in Lake Forest, Illinois.
• Melyzjah Smith (2013): Named in honor of Hunter Mahan, who aced the par-3 17th hole during the third round of the 2013 BMW Championship at Conway Farms Golf Club in Lake Forest, Illinois.
• Mark Abtahi (2012):  Named in honor of Steve Stricker, who aced the par-3 sixth hole during the second round of the 2012 BMW Championship at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Indiana.
• Haelena Schwemmer (2010): Named in honor of Sean O’Hair, who aced the par-3 second hole during the second round of the 2010 BMW Championship at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club in Lemont, Illinois.

For more information about the BMW Championship, visit BMWChampionship.com. To learn more about the Western Golf Association and Evans Scholars Foundation, visit wgaesf.org.

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About the BMW Championship

The BMW Championship dates back to 1899 when it debuted as the Western Open, making it the third-oldest tournament on the PGA TOUR schedule, behind only the British Open and U.S. Open. BMW has sponsored the tournament since 2007 when it became the penultimate event of the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Playoffs. The BMW Championship features a field of the top 50 players in the FedExCup standings to determine the final 30 players for the FedExCup final at the TOUR Championship in Atlanta. Since 2007, the BMW Championship has contributed more than $63 million to the Evans Scholars Foundation, the event’s charitable beneficiary. To learn more, visit www.bmwchampionship.com.

About the Western Golf Association/Evans Scholars Foundation

Established in 1930 by the Western Golf Association and celebrated amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr., the Evans Scholars Foundation provides full tuition and housing college scholarships to high-achieving caddies with limited financial means. This year, a record 1,310 caddies are enrolled as Evans Scholars at 28 leading universities nationwide. Scholarship funds come mostly from contributions by more than 43,500 supporters across the country who are members of the Evans Scholars Par Club program, including Evans Scholars Alumni, as well as proceeds from the BMW Championship. Since the Program’s inception, more than 12,870 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars.

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