E.A. Sports Today

T ‘n’ T pull away

Gary Wigington and Ty Cole pull away from logjam to win Buddy Moore Charity Tournament for first time, just in time for Sunny King Classic

By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today

Ty Cole didn’t play well. Gary Wigington played better than he has been, but there were still some elements that were a little off. The key was they weren’t bad together.

When one was out of the hole this weekend or missed a shot, the other was there to pick him up.

That was the formula to winning the Buddy Moore Charity Tournament for the first time together — just in time for the Sunny King Charity Classic. 

Cole and Wigington emerged from a tight overnight leaderboard to shoot 57 at The Hill for the second day in a row Sunday and win the Moore by three shots over two-time and defending champions Andrew Brooks and Brennan Clay and first-time partners Randy Lipscomb and Chad Calvert.

“We’ve always done that, we’ve always brother-in-lawed good,” Cole said. “And you’ve got to in these formats. You’re not going to come out here and both play good for two days, you’re just not going to.”

The runner-ups were among three teams tied for the lead going into Championship Sunday. Cole and Wigington started the day one shot back, but they started hot — eagle-birdie-birdie — and eventually took the lead for good with a birdie on No. 8. Their lead was never less than two over the final seven holes.

Brooks and Clay did all they could to stay in it, making birdies on six of their last seven holes, but Cole and Wigington, playing in the group in front of them, did the same thing to stay out front.

“You’d think there would be some drama with the four teams that were up top, but none of us others came to play,” Lipscomb said.

As much as Ty and Twig play together in other team events around the county during the season, this was only the second time they teamed up in the Buddy Moore. And the only reason they did is because the Sunny King Charity Classic got moved to September.

“Normally, I’d be done playing (for the season),” Cole said. “But since it’s the week before (the Sunny King) it’s a chance to tune up for that. It can be something as simple as getting used to riding in the cart again together.” 

That was the reason behind playing together in the Anniston CC Member-Guest two weeks ago. They already partner in the County Two-Man at Silver Lakes. And, of course, they’ve won the Sunny King together three times and played in the historic six-hole playoff a year ago.

But they changed their partnership routine a little this weekend and Wigington said it “worked out good” going into the the Sunny King.

Normally in a scramble he’ll hit first every shot and putt last. That was their approach Saturday, but because they hit different type shots around the green, they decided Sunday to let Cole chip first. If Cole’s shot missed the mark, Wigington was always there to get them back in the hole.

They made 24 birdies and one eagle over the two days. The only holes they didn’t birdie during the weekend were 7 and 11, but they picked up a lot of ground when Wigington nearly aced the iconic No. 2 both days.

“Twig is the best No. 2 golfer playing,” Lipscomb said. “Tiger Woods couldn’t be better than him on No. 2 in his career out here.”

There’s really no secret. It’s just a hole that plays to his strength and in this weekend’s formate he can take advantage of it.

“I’ve always historically been a good mid- to long-iron player and that’s what you’ve got into that hole,” Wigington said. “So it doesn’t scare you as much as most people because I’ve always hit those irons fairly good.

“I birdied it twice out of the four times and parred it the other two (as No. 11), which is making up two shots on the field probably. Especially when you have somebody else behind you who’s a good player, I can go ahead and hit what I should hit to try to hit it to the hole.”

Buddy Moore Tournament

BUDDY FLIGHTR1R2TOT
Ty Cole-Gary Wigington5757114
Andrew Brooks-Brennan Clay5661117
Randy Lipscomb-Chad Calvert5661117
Jeremy McGatha-Matt Rogers5663119
Matt Miller-Chad Watson5863121
Layton Bussey-Max Basler6061121
Landon Straub-Jason Johnson6160121
Landon Winfrey-Jared Waits5963122
Billy Thompson-Timmy Woodard6161122
Chip Howell-Jonathan Pate59WDWD
MARY ANN FLIGHT
Tanner Wells-Mark McCaig6163124
Tyler Dopson-Will Brown6262124
Brian Whitley-Kent Whitley6263125
Tony Hicks-Nick Hubbard6264126
Clay Calkins-Chris Hubbard6364127
Scott Murphree-Greg Shultz6365128
Lamar Carter-Daniel Black6366129
Blake Jones-Hunter Carr6366129
George Salmon-Chris Randall6268130
Ted Towns-Drue Snow6269131
SCOTT FLIGHT
Lenn Coffey-Adam Johnson6464128
Bob Eaton-Bradley Elliott6564129
Johnny Barnes-Chris Reaves6565130
Danny Whittaker-Gary Thomas6566131
Andrew Tyson-Byron Preston6666132
Andy Jenkins-Mark Gaines6570135
Jimmy Jackson-Stewart6670136
Ted Heim-Garrett Heim6770137
Ron Wheeler-Steve McClellan6672138
David Hill-David Fitzgerald6475139
ANGIE FLIGHT
Tim Mullendore-Mike Braxton6867135
Jimbo Phillips-Mike Hughston6769136
Donnie McGinnis-Ron Dulaney6970139
Daniel Clonts-Brett Key7069139
Steve Mullendore-Will Mullendore6973142
Mike Herndon-Tony Strickland7172143
Steve Rogers-Keith Gann7173144
Grady Sapp-Steve Akers7672148
Derrick Webb-John Roe7771148
Ken Renfroe-Konner Renfroe8280162

Specialty prizes

MARK SAWYER LONG DRIVE (1)
Gordon Stewart (AM), Tanner Wells (PM)
TOM SAWYER CLOSEST TO THE PIN (2/11)
Mike Hughston (AM), Gary Wigington (PM)
MIKE CLONTS LONGEST PUTT (6/15)
Johnny Barnes (AM), Blake Jones (PM)
DAVE COLEMAN/PRESTON PEPPER CLOSEST TO THE PIN (7/16)
Mike Braxton (AM), Brian Whitley (PM)

Buddy Moore history

YEARWINNERSCORE
2022Ty Cole-Gary Wigington26-under 114
2021Andrew Brooks-Brennan Clay26-under 114
2020Landon Straub-Jason Johnson25-under 115 (PO)
2019Cory Etter-Caleb Bowen29-under 111
2018Andrew Brooks-Brennan Clay26-under 114
2017Clay Calkins-Chris Hubbard28-under 112
2016Benji Turley-Marcus Harrell27-under 113
2015Ott Chandler-Dalton Chandler28-under 112
2014Jeremy McGatha-Matt Rogers27-under 113
2013Jeremy McGatha-Matt Rogers26-under 114
2012Jaylon Ellison-Gonzalo Berlin26-under 114
2011Gary Wigington-Clay Calkins26-under 114
2010Benji Turley-Marcus Harrell25-under 115
2009Jeremy McGatha-Matt Rogers27-under 113

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