April 27, 2021. Louisville, KY. – The $1 million prize is still up for grabs after 31 years in the Stock Yards Bank Kentucky Derby Festival $1 Million Dollar Hole-In-One Golf Contest. No one has aced Hole #8 at Seneca Golf Course, though a Louisville man came closest tonight.

Shawn Santini of Louisville came closest to the pin, hitting his tee shot 9 feet, 5 inches from the cup. Santini won the $5,000 first prize. He had a little help picking his club for the shot.

“I’m excited. I can’t believe I won,” said Santini. “I owe it to my caddy, my wife, Tricia. She told me which club to pick for the shot and I did!”

It was a beautiful night for the finals competition at Seneca as 56 Finalists took their shot at $1 million. Any golfer who made a hole-in-one during the qualifying rounds automatically qualified for the Finals and a shot at the $1 million. Any amateur player was eligible to enter. Everyone from scratch golfers to duffers took a swing at qualifying.

The Stock Yards Bank Kentucky Derby Festival $1 Million Dollar Hole-In-One preliminaries were held at the Seneca Golf Course Driving Range. The contest started April 15 and ran through April 25. Each shot was only $1, with special prices available for more than one shot.

Stock Yards Bank is the title sponsor of the event. Contributing Sponsor: Louisville Parks & Recreation. Supporting Sponsor: Capital Access Corporation – Kentucky. Media Sponsor WLKY TV.

Since 1956, the Derby Festival has worked to bring the community together in celebration. The Festival is an independent community organization supported by 4,000 volunteers, 400 businesses and civic groups, Pegasus Pin sponsorships and event participation. This involvement has made the Festival the largest single attended event in Kentucky and one of the leading community celebrations in the world.