Llamas receives Evans Scholarship as a result of Viktor Hovland’s hole-in-one

GLENVIEW, Ill. – BMW of North America and the Western Golf Association announced today that Diana Llamas of Chicago has been named the newest BMW Hole-in-One Scholar. Llamas will receive a full, four-year Evans Scholarship worth more than $125,000 to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a result of Viktor Hovland’s ace during the final round of last year’s BMW Championship at Wilmington Country Club in Delaware.

Llamas, a caddie at Ridgemoor Country Club in Chicago, is the sixth recipient of a BMW Hole-in-One Scholarship, which awards a full tuition and housing grant to deserving young caddies in the name of the first player to record a hole-in-one during tournament play at the BMW Championship. She is a first-generation college student and the third member of her family to earn the Evans Scholarship, following her brothers Jose (Marquette) and Daniel (Northwestern).

“Being the third sibling to earn the Evans Scholarship means everything to my family. I’m so honored to be named the BMW Hole-in-One Scholar, and my brothers are so proud,” said Llamas, who plans to study environmental engineering.  “The endless opportunities that come along with being an Evans Scholar are incredible – especially this one to meet Viktor Hovland, who helped make this possible for me.”

Since 2007, the BMW Championshp has raised more than $45 million in support of the Evans Scholars Foundation, helping more than 3,300 students attend college.

“We are proud of our longstanding partnership with the Western Golf Association, and of the great impact The BMW Championship makes in the lives of so many young scholars,” said Ilka Horstmeier, Member of the Board of Management for People and Places, BMW AG.  “BMW believes strongly in the role corporations play in supporting organizations like the Evans Scholars Foundation, which creates opportunities for young people to reach their full potential.”

Currently, a record 1,130 caddies are enrolled in 24 universities across the nation as Evans Scholars.

Llamas attended the 2023 BMW Championship at Olympia Fields Country Club in Olympia Fields, Ilinois, on Saturday, Aug. 19, where she had the opportunity to meet Hovland and thank him in person. 

“We are so appreciative of our partner, BMW, and their dedicated support of our Evans Scholars throughout the years,” said WGA President and CEO John Kaczkowski. “Diana is a wonderful example of all the qualities that our Evans Scholars share – she is hard-working, committed and dedicated. We have no doubt she will make the most of this life-changing opportunity to attend college.”

Previous BMW Hole-in-One Scholarship recipients include:

  • 2017: Brooklyn Gabriel (Jason Day at Conway Farms)
  • 2015: Hayden Bauschka (Jordan Spieth at Conway Farms)
  • 2013: Melyzjah Smith (Hunter Mahan at Conway Farms)
  • 2012: Mark Abtahi (Steve Stricker at Crooked Stick)
  • 2010: Haelena Schwemmer (Sean O’Hair at Cog Hill)