Wilson Cup interclub golf tournament has been a storied, spirited county fixture for 32 years is a crossroads. What will be the future direction? When will Wilson’s elite golfers know?
Chances are the Cup is not destined for a “goodbye” future. Cup founder Kent Williams, Wedgewood Public Golf Course head professional Brady Pinner and Thomas Walker, Director of Golf at Wilson Country Club, appear committed to the unique event’s continuation.
The original field of four teams — Wilson Country Club, Willow Springs Country Club, Wedgewood Public Golf Course and Happy Valley Country Club — just two weekends ago, dwindled to two courses when Willow Springs seized the championship in its final appearance before the 52-year-old club is sold within the next five months.
Only WCC and Wedgewood remain. Happy Valley concluded its participation and closed in 2018.
Remember, the Wilson Cup is the county’s version of the fabled Ryder Cup, which matches America’s professionals against Europe’s top professionals. Arguably, with just two teams, the Wilson Cup would be more authentic in relation to the Ryder Cup. About all of the Ryder Cup rules and regulations could be implemented.
TWO LOADED TEAMS
And expect the teams, regardless the number of golfers filling each roster, to be loaded. Top-shelf golfers are in abundance in Wilson County.
“In the conversations with Brady, Thomas and myself,” Williams said, “we feel that golf in Wilson has changed drastically. It’s a little stronger. We think we can make (a two-team Wilson Cup) happen. I just want to see it keep going.”
Perhaps, Walker, who has been at WCC less than a year, wishes to see more of the Ryder Cup-style play after his Wilson Country Club team finished third the weekend of Aug. 23-24, and failed to qualify for the final, which was contested at WCC.
After 32 duels, WCC leads with 13 victories, while the count is three for a Wedgewood group that has stepped up its game the last decade with Pinner at the helm. Willow Springs exited with 12 titles, while Happy Valley managed four.
WCC and Wedgewood, with its faster new greens, would likely alternate as sites. Williams admits the Cup could be played in one day, but believes the golfers will prefer two days of competition and lessening the grind each day.
In the latest cup, golfers ages 55-up were classified as seniors, but the seniors division was abolished. The older group simply moved to the tees in front of the younger entrants. That first-time endeavor ran smoothly.
LATER AND COOLER
Instead of continuing the event in late August, Williams hints: “We could push it back a month or so and try to find cooler weather.”
Thus, don’t expect a Wilson Cup break in 2026.
“The (owner John) McConnell (WCC) crowd has been very supportive,” noted Williams, “and we look forward to moving ahead.”
Williams also said: “It meant a lot to get the Willow Springs group back together.”
Legendary Wilson golfer Butch O’Briant, who primarily represented Willow Springs, but also has played for Happy Valley and Wedgewood, doesn’t doubt the Cup can exist with two teams.
“But I really don’t think they know,” he cautioned. “I really don’t like the idea that the seniors are going to be eased out of it. Nobody will be playing the Seniors tees again.”
The indication is that golfers ages 55-up can still land on a team — if they qualify. But all participants will play the same tees. That age group includes Williams, who plays for WCC.
SENIORS PLIGHT
The Senior group also includes O’Briant, who is 71. He hints he has probably played in his last Wilson Cup. He was the oldest Willow Springs member in 2025, while the eldest for WCC was former North Carolina Amateur champion Bill Boles Jr., and that distinction for Wedgewood belonged to another legend, Harry Helmer Jr. Both Boles and Helmer have surpassed 70 years of age.
“I just want to have a good time,”O’Briant declared. “I don’t care much for tournaments any more. If that’s the end of it, I am glad to go out a winner.”
The 12-time men’s champion at Willow Springs helped three Willow Springs and one Happy Valley squad to Wilson Cup titles.
“I guess, now, you can get two mighty strong teams to do battle,” he reasoned.
O’Briant contends his personal heyday was when the Wilson County Amateur first started and “back when club championships were really club championships.” He ruled four Wilson County Amateurs.
O’BRIANT ENJOYED CUP
Regarding the Wilson Cup, O’Briant said: “I enjoyed the team competition. When it first started, I knew it was something I wanted to play in.”
He certainly had a good time in the 2025 Wilson Cup, earning points in all six matches. O’Briant fared best on championship Sunday, claiming two of a maximum three points.
In the 18 holes of individual match play, O’Briant led Wedgewood’s Darryl Webb, 1-up after nine holes. However, Webb surged to a 1-up advantage on the back nine.
O’Briant birdied No. 12, and won Nos. 15 and 16 with pars to seal a 4 and 2 triumph.
“Darryl got into a little trouble with his iron shots,” O’Briant reported. “I drove the ball much better in the afternoon. I moved the ball back in my stance, and hit down on it. Nothing outstanding; nothing really bad.”
Willow Springs earned an appearance in the championship match by winning the Saturday, or first-day segment.
“All three (clubs) were pretty even,” O’Briant observed. “This was one of the better Wilson Cups.”
Second after the 18 holes Saturday morning, Willow Springs surged to leading the qualifying with 13 points. Wedgewood and WCC each tallied 11 ½ points and went into a playoff to decide Willow Springs’ opponent.
“I can’t believe WCC scored only 3 ½ points (during the Saturday afternoon session).” O’Briant admitted.
REMEMBER WEDGEWOOD
Instead, Wedgewood stormed for 8 ½ afternoon points to deadlock WCC and claim the other finals spot when newcomer Adam Dermer birdied the first hole of the playoff.
“Obviously, it went really well (for Willow Springs),” O’Briant remarked. “To have that kind of lead (9-31/2) was not expected. We knew we needed just 3 ½ points, but we also had to keep in mind what Wedgewood did Saturday.”
No worry. Willow Springs won six of the last seven one-on-one matches to expose a gap of nearly 10 points that did not reflect the competitiveness of the 12 duels.
“This was just a good team,” O’Briant commented. “The team was as interchangeable as we’ve had in a long time. Two years ago, I thought that would be the last one. It’s good to go out with this one.”
Down the stretch, O’Briant, at the back of the lineup, was unaware just how Willow Springs fared. But he knew he was leading his match. The same for captain Brandon Godwin and his brother, Brock Godwin. All prevailed as did Mike Kennedy, Chance Cox and Matt Sullivan. Veteran lefty David Lee accounted for Wedgewood’s final point.
“I heard a couple of our guys were behind early,” O’Briant said. “But I had figured out that, unless one of us collapsed at the end, we were alright.”
O’Briant assured he was committed to winning for Willow Springs.
“Absolutely!” he exclaimed. “I have basically been out there since 1974 (Willow Springs’ first year). I credit the golf course for getting me ready for the tournaments around here.
“I don’t blame (co-owner/golf professional) Jimmy (Gurkin) for what he’s having to do (sell the course).”
CRAPPY HALF-POINT
Individuals and twosomes might not have been especially satisfied by salvaging a half-point in their matches. However, the half-point counted, too.
And the one seized by Willow Springs’ Josh Talton Sunday afternoon should be enshrined with a framed photograph of the shot he hit out of the green-side pond on No. 18 to wind up all square and the recipient of a half-point in his match with Joey Lamm, gracious in only getting a tie — and a half-point.
Early on the back nine, Lamm went 5-up, and Lamm was understandably “down in the proverbial dumps”.
“This is it for me,” the 42-year-old Talton lamented. “I ain’t got it no more. This is my last Wilson Cup.”
However, now 3-down, he won Nos. 13, 14 and 15 to draw even. Talton and Lamm halved Nos. 16 and 17, and on to No. 18 — where Talton, minus shoes and socks, prepared for a muddy third shot, and Lamm dealt with a precarious third shot on the ledge of the fairway bunker in front of the green. Lamm salvaged bogey.
So did Talton, covered in mud after the third shot that landed a few feet short of the green. Talton holed a testy bogey putt. Each got a half-point for their trouble s— and entertainment.
“I never thought it was possible,” Talton declared. “I probably hit the ball better when I was 10-years-old. But at No. 13, something felt halfway decent at that point, and I was able to grind out a half. I hate to lose more than I love to win.
“The only reason I went into that stinking crap is that I was going to get SOMETHING!”
Maybe, Talton changed his mind slightly about his future association with golf. His past includes four Wilson County Amateur titles, six, including four in a row, WCC Men’s championships and Wilson Cup success with both WCC and Willow Springs.
“I am going to say this is my last competitive match,” expressed Talton, a devoted husband and father of five children. “People watching me now have no idea how good I used to be.”
JOB WELL DONE
Understandably, Sunday’s Wilson Cup duties were not what the Wilson Country Club staff anticipated. The championship participants were Willow Springs and Wedgewood. The WCC team, via a playoff loss, did not qualify to play for a record 14th title on its home course.
But Walker and assistants Jonathan Bissette and Alex Varner excelled. The trio deserves plenty of credit for its role in one of the best Wilson Cups yet.
Visitors were welcomed, accommodated and informed. The results were promptly posted. Indeed, a job well done.
