Andy Crain and Parker King – Best Friends
Goldsboro, N.C.

Snapshot: They talk funny, party hard and play a mean game of golf. These good ole boys from Goldsboro, N.C., give each other non-stop grief, have crushes on each other’s sisters and would do anything to help each other in a bind

Andy Crain: (L)
Age: 29
Hometown/Current Residence: Goldsboro, N.C.
Occupation: Professional Golfer; House Painter
Home Golf Course: Lane Tree Golf Club
Three words to describe teammate: Uncontrollable, Loud, Hard-headed

Parker King: (R)
Age: 29
Hometown/Current Residence: Goldsboro, N.C.
Occupation: Insurance Agent
Home Golf Course: Lane Tree Golf Club
Three words to describe teammate: Goofy, Fun-loving, Stubborn

Accentuating a similar Southern drawl and fun-loving attitude as the PGA TOUR’s self-professed redneck Boo Weekley, best friends and die-hard University of North Carolina Tar Heel fans Andy Crain and Parker King can certainly fill a reporter’s notebook when talking about shared experiences. The fun-loving – yet competitive – duo met on the golf course through their fathers, who played together routinely when Andy and Parker were kids at Goldsboro Country Club. However, it wasn’t until a county high school golf tournament during their senior year – when Andy and Parker finished first and second, respectively – that the two became inseparable friends.

After high school, Andy played golf at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he was named to the All-Conference team his senior year. Following graduation, he immediately turned professional, saying, “I was born to do this. This is all I know.” He currently competes on the Tar Heel Tour.

Andy’s professional highlight was qualifying and competing in the 2002 Greater Greensboro Open on the PGA TOUR, with Parker as his caddy. Despite missing the cut, they share countless memories and stories from the tournament. Both agree that the tournament was the highlight of their golf careers.

When asked about his friend’s collegiate career, Andy jokes that Parker attended close to 15 different colleges, while Parker puts it closer to four. “There is a lot of love to give, and I wanted to spread the wealth,” Parker joked.

Parker was on the one-year plan, attending Campbell University, Wayne Community College, Mt. Olive College – where he was a member of the golf team – and finally East Carolina University. He received a bachelor’s degree from ECU, and following graduation, joined Lane Tree Golf Club as a PGA of America Professional in Goldsboro. He later switched careers to the insurance business.

Complementing each other perfectly for Highway 18, the duo feels they are the team to beat. Andy is the serious one, while Parker is lighthearted. They plan to bring humor, southern hospitality and, most importantly, a competitive drive to win Highway 18.