From left are Will Gage, Steven Hamby, Braxton Wynns and Carolina Wynns after shooting 47.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Al Myatt)

Not all of the attention in golf in the region was focused on the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 on Thursday as 15 teams competed in the Bobby Purvis Memorial Tournament at Chicora.

Will Gage, Steven Hamby, Braxton Wynns and Carolina Wynns combined for a sizzling 47 to win the event by six shots.

Gage is the athletic director and varsity boys basketball coach at Harnett Central. He organizes the event which raises money for a scholarship in memory of Purvis at Union Pines, where he served as athletic director.

This year marked the fifth annual Purvis tournament since his passing in 2020.

Hamby is former club pro at Chicora. Braxton Wynns is the son of former Keith Hills pro, Joe Wynns. Braxton Wynns was top overall athlete at Campbell as a Camels golfer.

Braxton Wynns coaches girls golf at Cape Fear Christian Academy and his daughter, Carolina, is a rising seventh-grader on the CFCA girls golf team.

The winning foursome took advantage of Carolina playing from the ladies’ tees on Nos. 3 and 15 where she drove the greens on the par fours, which led to eagles.

Chicora officials said the previous record was 48 for a superball format at the club. Par is 71 at Chicora.

Second place with a 53 were David Gaster, Preston Gaster, Ethan Weaver and Grant McIntyre.

The team of Jody Milliron, Ken Gray, Richard Johnson and Gary Adcock was third at 56.

Closest to the pin prizes were won by Kathryn Elliott on No. 4, Weaver (No. 7), Mark Whitman (No. 11) and Carolina Wynns (No. 14).

Participants enjoyed a catered meal after play was completed.