A group of Lumbees paid Locklear's hotel expense here Sunday night so he wouldn't have to drive back to Pembroke after a practice round. Established pros get paid to use certain clubs and balls and wear brand-name clothes. Folks back home want to assist him. The Pembroke Chamber of Commerce is accepting donations to help Locklear with travel expenses. A fund-raising tournament for him will be held May 5 at the Riverside Golf Club near Pembroke.
Many golfers take up the game when they're shorter than a golf club.
Locklear was already married with two children, plus he had served a hitch in the Army, before his father coaxed him to go play golf for the first time. Locklear's sport was baseball. He played shortstop in high school and at Southeast Community College in Whiteville. I told myself I would never go out on a golf course and chase a little white ball around. Within 18 months of giving the sport a try, he shot a 69.