New Bern, NC. Craven Smart Start will host the 2nd Annual Joey Hardison Memorial Golf Tournament at the Emerald Golf Club in New Bern on June 13th . The golf tournament honors the late Joseph “Joey” Hardison, a well-known local golfer who was a four-time Club Champion at the Emerald. Sadly, in November 2023, at the age of 61, he passed away from a massive heart attack after playing a round of golf at the Emerald. He was survived by his wife Lynn Hardison and their sons, Will and Drew Hardison. Lynn has been a Craven Smart Start Board Member since 2018. When the Craven Smart Start Board of Directors was looking at holding a golf fundraiser, the idea of a memorial golf tournament to honor Joey Hardison was proposed and quickly accepted.
Lynn Hardison and Lee Moore, the former WCTI Sports Director who has also worked a number of years with professional golf tours, are serving as the Co-Chairs for the tournament. According to Moore, “Joey Hardison was an outstanding high school athlete playing baseball and football at New Bern High School and later playing golf on scholarship at Mount Olive College and Atlantic Christian College. The Hardison family wishes to share Joey’s lifetime “passion for play” and his love of children to benefit future generations of young boys and girls in Craven County through this tournament.”
Proceeds from these tournaments will be used to expand Craven Smart Start’s developmental play and learning opportunities for youngsters from 2 to 5 years of age in underserved areas of Craven County through the purchase of a mobile learning unit, Joey’s Play and Learn. According to Lynn, “The mobile unit will provide outreach learning and play opportunities across the county for children who may not be able to access such possibilities through traditional learning avenues”.
The golf tournament will be a four-person team superball format with a shotgun tee off at 1:00 p.m. The tournament includes prizes for winning teams, a 50/50 raffle, a gift bag for each team member and various door prizes.
Moore says, “We would like to thank the businesses and individuals who have joined us in contributing to this cause. The golf tournament is being sponsored by a number of area businesses.” To date, the Gold Level Sponsor is Don Williamson Nissan. The Silver Level Sponsor is Moore Buick GMC Truck, Inc. The Bronze Level Sponsors are Cella Ford; TAB Premium Built Homes: CarolinaEast Medical Center; McNaughton-McKay Electric Company and Thomas N. Sparks, a family supporter. Grant’s Menswear is our SWAG (gift bag) Sponsor. We also are encouraging businesses and individuals to
support the cause with the purchase of a TEE sign that will be displayed on the golf course.”
For information about tournament sponsorships, golf teams or TEE signs, call Lynn Hardison at (252) 670-9209 or email her at harlynn117@gmail.com. For information about Craven Smart Start, contact Pinkie Moore, Community Outreach Coordinator, at Pinkie@cravensmartstart.onmicrosoft.com
About Craven Smart Start
Craven Smart Start is a 501©3 non-profit that administers the funding and programs of Smart Start, North Carolina’s early childhood initiative. Their mission is to build brighter futures for young children by laying a strong foundation for lifetime learning and by preparing them for school success. Craven Smart Start initiates and funds programs that address kindergarten readiness and collaborates with other community organizations that support the development of children, birth to five and their families in Craven County.