From professional golfers to hockey players, country artists and local fans, the sports community came together in Raleigh on Monday for the first Grayson Murray Classic, a daylong celebration honoring the late Raleigh native and two-time PGA Tour winner, who died last year.
The event began at Raleigh Country Club and concluded with a sold-out dinner and concert at North Ridge Country Club, raising money for the Grayson Murray Foundation, which supports mental health and addiction care.
Hosted by Golf Channel’s Gary Williams, who broadcast his “5 Clubs” show live from the Fairway Grill Deck, the day blended golf, storytelling and reflection. Guests included PGA Tour players, media personalities and the Murray family, whose openness about grief and purpose has become the heartbeat of the new foundation.
“Grayson himself wrote out plans for the foundation back in 2021,” said his mother Terry Murray. “After he passed, I found those handwritten notes and that became our roadmap. Working on this foundation has kept me going these past 16 months — it gave me a purpose when I didn’t know where to turn.”
The Classic’s field reflected Grayson’s wide circle. Professional golfers Brooks Koepka, Chesson Hadley, Jason Kokrak, Jason Gore, Stephan Jaeger and Richy Werenski joined former Carolina Hurricanes stars Cam Ward and Justin Williams, country artist George Birge and former NC State football standouts Koren Robinson and Mike Glennon.
Fresh off a PGA Tour win Sunday at the Sanderson Farms Championship, Stephen Fisk chartered a flight from Mississippi to Raleigh to take part. “That’s who golfers are,” said Eric Murray, Grayson’s father. “But it’s not only golfers. We’ve got hockey players, musicians, people from all over the country who cared about him. It’s overwhelming.”
Grayson’s passion for sports extended beyond golf, Eric said. “He loved the Hurricanes — it had to be Hurricane hockey,” he added with a smile.
The Grayson Murray Foundation was built from his handwritten notes outlining a desire to “help the ones that want to be helped but might not have the help they need financially.” That idea now guides the organization’s work.
“Grayson wanted to help one person at a time,” Eric said. “That’s what he told us. If he could just help one person, that would be enough — and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
The tournament also partnered with Paws for Patrick, a nonprofit that provides therapy dogs and emotional support animals for those struggling with mental health challenges. Several dogs greeted participants during the morning broadcast, symbolizing the day’s focus on comfort and connection.
The celebration moved Monday night to North Ridge Country Club, where guests shared stories, bid on auction items and heard Birge perform his radio hits “Mind on You” and “Cowboy Songs.”
“This foundation is Grayson’s legacy,” said Jeff Maness, president of the Grayson Murray Foundation. “We’re working to make help more accessible — and to remind people that talking about mental health isn’t weakness. It’s strength.”
McConnell Golf, which hosted the morning tournament, played a central role in Grayson’s development. “He was the first recipient of our junior scholarship back in 2008,” said John McConnell, the company’s founder and CEO. “We’re proud to help ensure that his story — one of courage, honesty and kindness — continues to make an impact.”
As the evening closed, Terry Murray looked around the ballroom. “It’s heartwarming to see so many people here supporting our son,” she said. “Grayson loved life, he loved people and he loved this game. To see that love returned — it means everything.”
Proceeds from the event will fund mental health programs and outreach through the Grayson Murray Foundation.
The day ended as Grayson often signed his notes — “Be kind to one another.”
-Brad King is a Winston-Salem-based writer