About Us
The Native Island Golf Classic is more than a sporting event—it’s a powerful initiative dedicated to creating opportunities for local high school students to achieve their dreams of higher education. Through the Reverend Isaac W. Wilborn Jr. Scholarship Fund, the tournament raises funds to provide scholarships to deserving students, empowering the next generation of leaders while fostering a spirit of unity and celebration within our community.
Our Mission
To make a lasting impact on our community by supporting scholarships for high school seniors heading to college. The Native Island Golf Classic combines the joy of golf with the power of giving back, building a brighter future for students while celebrating the rich heritage and culture of our native island community.
Our Vision
We envision a community where every student has the opportunity to pursue higher education, regardless of financial barriers. By uniting golfers, sponsors, and community members through this annual event, we aim to inspire hope, encourage achievement, and strengthen the bonds of our community.
The Story Behind the Golf Classic
Isaac W. Wilborn, Jr., a native of Elloree, South Carolina, moved to Hilton
Head Island in 1954 (before the first bridge) to become the first principal of the island’s first consolidated school. After almost three decades as an educator, he retired and entered the ministry serving as Pastor at Allen Chapel AMEC, Burton and then Campbell Chapel AMEC, Bluffton. While serving at Allen Chapel AME, Pastor Wilborn saw the need for an education scholarship program that could benefit the youth of his congregation and our local community. With the help of his long-time friend, Jim Littlejohn, some of his former students, and others, they organized the inaugural I.W. Wilborn Jr. Scholarship Golf Tournament in 1996. For most the succeeding years, the tournament was hosted at various golf courses on Hilton Head Island and in the Bluffton community to raise money for the scholarship fund. The tournaments have attracted many local players and others from across America, including former students, professional athletes, entertainers, relatives and friends.
Since its inception, the tournaments have also received onsistent support
from various local businesses and corporate scholarships.
The proceeds from the tournaments are primarily used to assist those
students who has a desire to pursue a post-secondary education, training
and/or a certification; but for whatever reason just do not quite have
enough resources to do so. Over the years the funds raised (almost
$100,000) have been used to assist more than one hundred students.