Live Oak Bank is teeing up to get a new golf event off the ground in Wilmington.

The bank is partnering with the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce and Greater Wilmington Business Journal to host the inaugural Wilmington Majors. Spread over more than four months, the tournament begins May 21 and runs through October 1. Golfers will compete for the Live Oak Bank Cup by playing at the area’s premier courses: Cape Fear Country Club, Cape Fear National, Country Club of Landfall and Porter’s Neck Country Club.

“Starting in 1990, we organized an annual golf tournament that was held in the fall,” said Connie Majure-Rhett, president and CEO of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. “This is the first year that the participants will play in four tournaments throughout the year instead of just the one. The Wilmington Majors was launched in an effort to provide a fun networking event for local area businesspeople throughout the year.”
 
Majure-Rhett added that the single tournament has been so popular in the past that the chamber decided to expand the event.

 “We are excited to be a part of The Wilmington Majors and always look for opportunities to get involved on a local level,” said Chip Mahan, CEO of Live Oak Bank. “Our bank is still relatively new in town, so we want to continue to create awareness and nurture our relationships with other businesses and professionals in the community.”
 
Live Oak Bank, the only bank headquartered in Wilmington was founded to provide small business loans to professionals looking to start or expand their business. Aside from acquisitions and refinancing, Live Oak’s lenders specialize in real estate loans and ground-up construction projects for veterinarians, dentists, independent pharmacists and funeral home owners nationwide.