Golf

Jason Derebery of Hallsville became the second person this week to record an ace during the qualifying Friday in The University of Texas at Tyler Suddenlink Patriot Million Dollar Hole-in-One Contest.

Derebery recorded the hole-in-one at the Longview site. On Tuesday, Jimmy Pollard of Holly Lake Ranch also had an ace in Longview.

Other qualifiers in Longview on Friday were: Don Patterson of Heath (4 1/4 inches); Billy Williams of Longview (41/2 inches); Shilo Solis of Longview (6 3/4 inches); Frank Hutchison Jr. (10 inches); and Michael Gilbert of Longview (14 inches).

Qualifying in Tyler were: Earl Coppinger of Tyler (4 inches); Roy Watson of Mason (4 inches); Blake Morton of Troup (4 1/2 inches); Charley Calhoun of Tyler (6 inches); Billy Starnes of Tyler (9 inches); and Jon Rowan of Tyler (11 1/2 inches).

A total of 4,076 shots were hit in Tyler on Friday, while 1,571 were hit in Longview.

The seven-day total in Tyler is 14,561.

The five-day total in Longview is 6,800. The Longview site was closed Sunday and Wednesday.

Previous Tyler qualifiers were: Saturday - Walter Treat of Tyler (6 1/2 inches), Chase Chick of Tyler (8 inches), and John Bonney of League City (12 inches); Sunday - Mike Cearley of Troup (6 1/2 inches and Daniel Treat of Tyler; Monday - Michele Reese of Tyler (12 inches), Jack Sargent of Tyler (12 1/2 inches), Chris Hunter of Troup (16 inches) and Lauren Burton of Tyler (9 feet, 2 inches); and Tuesday - Todd Korich of Tyler (15 inches) and J.M. Craig of Tyler (16 inches); Wednesday - Brian Minton of Tyler (edge of cup), Bryan Brady of Tyler (8 1/2 inches), Glen Wierick of Tyler (14 inches); Greg Crouch of Mineola (17 3/8 inches), and Dick Gilmore of Tyler (29 3/4 inches).

Thursday - Todd Williams of Tyler (2 1/2 inches) and Dwayne Walker of Tyler (2 1/2 inches).

Previous Longview qualifiers were: Saturday - Matt Townsend of Longview (10 1/2 inches), Randy Neeley of Longview (12 inches) and Michael Cearley of Troup (18 inches); Monday - Jeff Mekalip of Troup (15 1/2 inches) and Dianne Wylie of Henderson (25 1/4 inches) and Tuesday - Jimmy Pollard of Holly Lake Ranch (ace), Daniel Wise of Longview (9 1/4 inches) and Ortha Davis of Longview (16 3/4 inches); Thursday - Ray Reinert of Kilgore (14 3/4 inches), Tim Roden of Gilmer (16 inches); Jimmy Murrell of Diana (27 inches) and Bill McDaniel of Longview (29 inches).

The Million Dollar Mania winner was Marta Shoulders. She wins 25 free shots this week. Previous Million Dollar Mania winners were Bob Brewer (Saturday), DeWayne Munk (Sunday), Robert Burton (Monday), Betty Walker (Tuesday), David Martinez (Wednesday) and Todd Smith (Thursday).

Qualifying continues through Saturday at contest sites in Tyler and Longview.

The contests offer amateur golfers age 18 and older the opportunity to compete, at $1 per shot, in preliminary daily rounds.

The Tyler contest site is off Old Bullard Road behind the Holiday Inn Select. The Longview contest will be held at the UT Tyler Longview University Center.

Daily qualifiers will be persons who hit closest to the hole, as well as those who hit a hole-in-one, during the qualifying rounds.

The finals will take place at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at The Cascades Golf Club. Three holes are set up on the green during the finals, and each hole corresponds to one of three prizes.

Prizes are a 2008 Mustang GT Coupe sponsored by Tyler Ford, a 2008 Harley-Davidson FXSTC sponsored by Lone Star Harley-Davidson Buell or $1 million.

Participants who purchase 25 or more tickets at the contest site will be entered into a drawing at the finals for a 32-inch flat panel high definition television. The winner must be present at the finals to win.

Proceeds from the event benefit scholarship programs for students at UT Tyler's campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine.

The contests are coordinated by the UT Tyler Patriots and UT Tyler Longview University Center Patriots organizations.

The UT Tyler Suddenlink Patriot Million Dollar Hole-in-One Contest, an official event of the UT Tyler Patriot Classic, is presented in conjunction with KLTV Channel 7, KTBB AM 600 Radio and Longview and Kilgore Cable TV.

For tickets or more information, contact the UT Tyler Office of University Advancement, 903-566-7110.