For the first time, Wayne Gretzky wasn’t sent packing Saturday after the BMW Charity Pro-Am’s 54-hole cut. Instead, he joked he’d have to go shopping.

Gretzky, who never made the cut in three previous BMW appearances, held a commanding five-stroke lead in the team competition entering today’s final round at Thornblade Club.

“I always pack for three days. I don’t think I’ve ever made the cut in any pro-am” the 47-year-old Gretzky said with a laugh after he and pro partner Chris Nallen posted a 12-under-par 60 Saturday at Carolina Country Club for a 38-under 178 total. “I didn’t think I’d be playing on Sunday. We’ll have to go to a store.”

Meanwhile, second-round leader David Mathis of Raleigh, N.C., shot 3-under 68 at Thornblade to maintain a one-stroke lead over Matt Weibring in the main event, which offers a first prize of $121,500 and a new BMW X5. Mathis, a third-year Nationwide player, has yet to win on the tour.

Former Clemson University standout Matt Hendrix, playing on a sponsor’s exemption, made a pair of back-to-back bogeys and shot 5-over 76 at Thornblade to fall back into a tie for 27th at 6-under 209.

Hendrix, who lives in Greenville and plays out of Thornblade, was in third place after two rounds. The top 25 finishers earn a spot in next week’s tournament near Washington.

Actually, Gretzky should have packed enough clothes. His wife Janet is a two-time BMW pro-am winner and the defending champion. Watching Janet play on Sunday had become an annual Upstate habit for Gretzky and his five kids.

Janet Gretzky and pro partner Darren Angel missed the cut by nine strokes.

“I’m very excited for Wayne,” said Janet Jones-Gretzky, an actress whose most notable films were “The Flamingo Kid” and “A League of Their Own.” “I hope he can bring home the trophy this year.’’

Gretzky, an 18-handicapper, helped his team with three gross birdies.

“Usually I make three birdies in a month,” he said.

The Gretzkys said the BMW week has become a highlight of the year for their family. This year, 17-year-old son Ty played for the first time and missed the cut. Emma Gretzky, the couple’s 5-year-old daughter, walked the 18th hole with her mother Saturday. Seven-year-old son Tristan also kept Janet busy.

“I think she put so much effort into making sure our son was taken care of that she forgot to focus on her game,” Gretzky said. “So we’ll give her a little bit of a mulligan.”

The Gretzkys will play in a second Nationwide pro-am this year – the inaugural Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic June 26-29 outside Toronto.

NOTED

Tee times for the 60 pros that made the cut and 14 pro-am survivors begin today at 8:30 a.m. The leaders are expected to tee off at 10:36. … Weibring, the 28-year son of five-time PGA Tour winner D.A. Weibring, shot 4-under 68 Saturday at Bright’s Creek. … Anderson amateur Ken Rada, father of University of South Carolina golfer Patrick Rada, shot 22-under 193 with pro Tom Johnson and missed the cut by three strokes.