120 Golfers Participated in the WEF’s 36th Annual Hugh Martin Memorial Golf Tournament on May 7, 2026.

36th Annual Hugh Martin Memorial Golf Tournament photo.  Photo by Gordon Burns

---

The Wilkes Education Foundation’s (WEF) 36th Annual Hugh Martin Memorial Golf Tournament was held on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Oakwoods Country Club. It generated a record $35,000 to be used to award mini-grants and scholarships to Wilkes County Schools’ teachers and students.

A shot-gun start began at noon with 120 golfers participating. For 2025-26, the Hugh Martin Memorial Golf Tournament awarded $39,937.59 for 27 awards up to $1,500 each to Wilkes County Schools’ teachers in the form of mini-grants for special projects that are not funded through the state or county. Mini-grants made possible by this year’s tournament will be awarded this summer.

In addition to the mini-grants, WEF has awarded scholarships totaling $112,000 to Wilkes County students for the 2025-2026 academic year. Cumulatively, in the past 40 years, the WEF has awarded, in support of education, over $2,200,000 to Wilkes County teachers and students.

David McNeill, golf tournament committee chair, stated, “There are some players who have played every year, not only returning for the fun and fellowship but also because it supports a great cause - Wilkes County Schools. I am grateful for the support of all the 120 players, our 125 sponsors, and the volunteers and committee members who helped make this year’s tournament such a great success.”

The tournament was established in memory of Hugh Martin who died in April 1990. Martin was an avid golfer and had been a teacher at Mulberry Elementary School and Wilkes Central School before becoming a state and federal probation officer.  “He supported any event that made a difference for students,” added McNeill. “Hugh always looked for the best in others”. His untimely death was a reminder to his friends, “We do not take away in life; we can only give.” 

The Captain’s Choice results of the 2026 competition were as follows:

---

 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•  

 

---

Carolina West Wireless served as the lead tournament sponsor. Corporate sponsors included Window World, ECMD, Fourth Elm Construction, Brown and Brown, Wilcox Marketing, PNC Bank, Arnold and Becky Lakey. Larry and Diane Stone sponsored lunch, both meals were provided by Can Do catering. Hole-in-one sponsors included McNeill Chevrolet Nissan; Randy Marion Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep; Yadkin Valley Ford and Blue Ridge Tractor. In all, more than 150 individuals, groups and businesses contributed to the event by being hole sponsors.

Special guest, UNC Hall of Fame basketball player, Phil Ford, greeted and visited with all of the players on the golf course throughout the tournament.

In addition to the support of the players and sponsors, the efforts of a dedicated group of foundation members and volunteers make the Hugh Martin Memorial Golf Tournament possible. Together they completed the many tasks for the successful tournament, including preparing goodies for players, silent auction, monitoring snacks and beverages throughout the event, and assisting with registration and event contests. Special thanks to the following for volunteering their time and energy to the event: David McNeill, Bill Myers, Danny Holman, Arnold Lakey, Charles Wooten, Marcia Reynolds, Bert Young, Gordon Burns, Doris Stroud, Connie McNeill, Club Pro, Holden Abrams and staff at Oakwoods Country Club.

The Wilkes Education Foundation is a private, non-profit, IRS 501(c) (3) tax-exempt endowment corporation dedicated to promoting excellence in education in the Wilkes County Schools. For information about contributing to the WEF, contact Jody Hamby, 302 9th St, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659.  For more information, see www.wilkeseducationfoundation.org.