Jay Horton grew up in Williamston, NC, and is closing in on 30 years of volunteer service for the tournament! Since the 1990s, Jay has played many roles as a volunteer. He is our 2025 General Chairman.
Jay first moved to Greensboro in 1991. He was 23 years old and looking to get involved in his new community. A hometown connection with the city manager led him to join the Greensboro Jaycees, a group focused on leadership and development for young professionals in the area.
After a few years as a member, he joined the group’s most significant effort, volunteering for the tournament. “The Jaycees had a mantra of leadership and development, and the tournament personified both,” Jay told us.
We asked Jay what brings him back to the tournament each year, and he said, “What keeps me coming back year in and year out is the pride of the community, the value the tournament brings to Greensboro, and the relationships that now span three decades.”
We also asked Jay about his favorite Wyndham moment, and he told us, “The year we named the trophy the Sam Snead Cup, I was a rookie committee member, and my assignment was literally to take care of Sam Snead for an hour. So, I sat with him in an empty air-conditioned skybox on the 18th green just he and I. Now, 30 years later, it’s like, ‘Wow, did that really happen.’ That’s the beauty of volunteering at the tournament, where I, at 29, could sit down with the 8-time winner just by being in the right place at the right time. It could happen to anybody. As with anything in life, say yes, be present, and don’t be scared to jump right in.”
The Jaycees and the tournament have a special place in Jay’s life. He met his wife, Terisa, at a Jaycee meeting, and now he shares his volunteering experience with his niece, Anna, who will be a senior intern this year.
“To see her being excited about the field, asking questions, and being surprised and invested in everything that goes on in the tournament is special for me to see,” Jay shared.
Jay, thank you so much for your continued dedication and time given to make our tournament such a success every year!
