Tough field

Team of Goforth-Couch shoot 13-under-par 58 to lead deep field after one round of the third Ted’s Charity Invitational.

By Joe Medley
East Alabama Sports Today

GADSDEN — The tandem of Ken Goforth and Luke Couch emerged on top through Saturday’s first round of a highly competitive Ted’s Charity Invitational.

The pair shot 13-under-par 58 at Gadsden Country Club and lead defending champions Ty Cole-Gary Wigington, Dane Moore-Corey Ray and Harrison Martin-Frankie Wade by one shot headed into Sunday’s final round.

The third annual Ted’s Invitational is playing out on Gadsden Country Club and Anniston Country Club. Half of the field played in Gadsden on Saturday and half in Anniston.

The field flips for Sunday’s final round, with the lead groups finishing at ACC.

Twenty-four teams emerged from Saturday within five shots of the lead. Jacob LeCroy-Tanner Wells, the winning team in 2024, shot 62 Saturday and stand among five teams tied for 15th.

Goforth is making his first appearance in the Ted’s Invitational. Tournament director Ted Gregerson invited him after Goforth, who lives in Birmingham, won the Gadsden Country Club Invitational in 2025.

“This is one of the best two-man golf tournaments I’ve ever played in with all that he’s done so far,” Goforth said. “Ted Gregerson is a great man and everything he’s done for the sport in the Anniston and Gadsden area, he’s really grown the game for even kids.

“I saw high schoolers and younger college guys out there today. He’s letting them into them into the tournament and not just older men. It’s all ages. That’s one of the things Ted does to make this a special event.”

Goforth played high school golf at Oak Mountain before playing for Central Alabama Community College and Western Carolina University. His teammate, Couch, played golf and basketball for Vestavia Hills High School and Belhaven University.

The two got to know each other through competing in high school and reconnected at last year’s AGA State Amateur Championship.

“Since then, we’ve gotten better and better with the friendship,” Gofoth said. “I just love to play golf with him. That’s the most important thing is the fellowship to us.”

Both are familiar with Gadsden Country Club, and it showed Saturday as they played the scamble format at GCC.

“When I needed to put one in play because he was out of position, I was able to put one in play, and vice versa,” Goforth said. “When I was out of position, he was able to step up and put one in play.

“We got hot with the putter, and it was great seeing the ball go in for both of us. … We’re just excited to be in this spot, in position to win tomorrow night.”

Goforth and Couch have a lot of company Gregerson has assembled the deepest field yet for his still-growing invitational.

“We’ve tried to strengthen the field every year,” Gregerson said. “This is our third year, but we’ve got some players in there. There’s a lot of guys that shot 10 under, and you have your leader at 13 under. It’s super competitive.”

One reason is an influx of players from Gadsden Country Club, including the team of Moore-Ray. Moore won this year’s Gadsden Country Club Invitational, a points event on the Calhoun County Golf Tour.

“With GCC, what they did last year, they requested that, if we have it there, to reserve 10 teams for them,” Gregerson said. “This year they requested, I think it was, 20 teams, and I think we just about filled those.

“We’re getting more representation from Gadsden Country Club members. I don’t think before they didn’t play in a lot of tournaments.”

First-round scores

Sunday tee times (Anniston Country Club)

Sunday tee times (Gadsden Country Club)

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