On Friday, Nov. 7, the Sampson Community College Foundation welcomed over 100 participants for its 23rd annual Sampson Classic Golf tournament at Coharie Country Club.Created in honor of William M. “Bill” Johnson, Jr., the Sampson Classic is one of the first major donor events of the Foundation’s new fiscal period, bringing local sportsmen and businesses together to raise funds and support for student scholarships at SCC.
This year’s major corporate sponsors were DuBose Strapping, Prestage Farms, and Hog Slat.
Gold sponsors were Vision Ag, Merrill: A Bank of America Company Purcell Group, Crumpler Plastic Pipe, Deacon Jones Automotive of Clinton, Clean Run Farms, and the Nethercutt Family.
Silver sponsors were First Citizens Bank, Han-Dee Hugos, Ezzell Trucking, Huntington Commercial Bank, Butler & Faircloth Real Estate, Star Communications, CMS Farming Company, Daniels & Daniels Construction, Truist, Ivanhoe Blueberry Farms, Michael & Ceclia Warren, Bill and Alta Starling, SCC Maintenance- Honoring Gary Hinson, and Butler Valuation and Consulting.
Team sponsors were eBen – Employee Benefits, Rosin Hill Auto, Smithfield Foods – Clinton, Systel Business Equipment Co., Inc, Aycock Home Inspections, Kotography, Lakewood Country Club, Pat Jones Family, Strickland Wolfbackers, and Schindler Elevator Corp.
Tee sponsors were Ag Carolina Farm Credit, B.J. Williamson Propane, Inc., Chestnutt, Johnson, & Tyson, PA; Clay and Gina Strickland, Concrete Materials, Sylvia Gainey, Howard and Carr, PLLC; Huff Orthopedics Group, PA; Tyson Five, Lyman and Penny Horne, Sampson Regional Medical Center, Sessoms Jewelry, and Neal & Jonelle Strickland.
With prizes awarded in each of the four flights, winners for the day included:
Flight One: 1st– Nethercutt Family, 2nd– Han-Dee Hugos
Flight Two: 1st– Aycock Home Inspections, 2nd– Star Communications
Flight Three: 1st– SCC Maintenance- Honoring Gary Hinson, 2nd– Crumpler Plastic Pipe
Flight Four: 1st– Butler Valuation and Consulting 2nd- Rosin Hill Auto
Closest to the pin was Sprunt Hill and James Matthis. Longest drive winners were Dickie Walkers and Jennifer Eavenson.
In addition to the donors and participants, the event also wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the SCC Foundation Golf Committee and numerous event volunteers, organizers said, offering thanks to Brooks Barwick, Reid Butler, Brett Feight, Bill Fulton, Melissa Fulton, Jordan Harter, David Hobson, Morgan Moore, Jeff Nethercutt, Kaitlyn O’Neal, Frankie Sutter, Lisa Turlington, Kendall Tyson, Dylan Warner, Co-Chair -Jason Water, and Co-Chair -Jonathan Williams.
Lisa Turlington, Dean of Advancement & Executive Director of the Foundation shared, “It is always a pleasure to spend a day with friends of the College on the golf course. While many of the sponsors, players, and volunteers have been a part of the Sampson Classic since the first one was played in 2002, there are also some new faces joining forces with the College. Proceeds from the tournament go to support student aid as well as academic and workforce programming. The tournament also gives us a chance to celebrate the memory of our longtime friend and supporter, Bill Johnson.”
The college, Turlington said, extends its vast appreciation to each of the donors, sponsors, players, volunteers, and board members who made this day possible. Because of their generous support, the SCC Foundation hopes to continue awarding over $200,000 to over 100 students through scholarships, as they did during 2024-2025.
Support for the SCC Foundation through events such as the Sampson Classic truly aids the college’s mission of students being able to ‘Begin Here, Go Anywhere,’ she added.
For more information about the Foundation or how to contribute to student scholarships, visit www.sampsoncc.edu/foundation.
Sampson Community College is a member of the North Carolina Community College System, located in Clinton, NC in Sampson County. The college offers many programs to include two-year degrees, college transfer, continuing education and workforce development options and early college education. SCC is committed to the principles of equal educational and employment opportunities for all.