For the past 26 years, amateur golfers having been taking swings for their chance to win $1 million, and are helping to support funding for  scholarship programs at the University of Texas at Tyler.

Levi Herrera, a 2009 recipient of the UT Tyler Hole-in-One scholarship, talked about how the extra money has benefitted his educational needs

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Levi, an English major, will be a senior at UT Tyler this fall.

During the third week of May each year, UT Tyler holds the Patriot Million Dollar Hole-in-One competition. The daily contest draws thousands of East Texans to the Hole-One site and gives golfers a chance to qualify for the finals and their chance to win the million if they sink a hole-in- one.

Since its inception in 1986, the Hole-in-One competition has raised more than $1 million to support scholarship programs.

Deanna Sims, Director of Major Gifts and Advancement Services at UT Tyler, said state and federal cutbacks continue in higher education and encourages students to seek out what scholarships are available to them. Sims said the UT Tyler hole-in-one program is securing the future needs for students of higher education.

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This year’s UT Tyler Hole-in-One Contest ends Saturday May 19. Finals will be held Sunday May 20 at Hollytree Country Club in Tyler.

More information about the UT Tyler Patriot Hole-in-One is available at www.uttyler-holeinone.com.

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