County Match Play
- Updated: September 26, 2026
Wigington, Clay, McGatha and Rollins advance to Sunday’s semifinals at Anniston Municipal Golf Course.
By Brandt Locklier
For East Alabama Sports Today
ANNISTON — It was a beautiful fall day, with a touch of cool in the air and not a cloud in the sky as 16 golfers descended on Anniston Municipal for the Calhoun County Match Play Championship.
The play was peaceful, too, as the top four seeds advanced to Sunday’s final two rounds. Gary Wigington advanced to play Jeremy McGatha in one semifinal match, and Brennan Clay advanced to face John Rollins in the other semifinal match on Sunday.
Wigington, the defending champion, has won this event seven times, and McGatha has won it three times. They both had things going their way on Saturday.
Wigington is a feared match player and seems to play even better in match play events.
“I like match play,” he said. “One hole can not beat you like it does in stroke play. You just lose one hole, and you move on to the next with a clean slate. You cannot do that in stroke play.”
McGatha calls match play “a win-win.”
“If I lose, I get to go home and watch football,” he said. “Just play the best I can.”
Clay was a late arrival because of a scheduling conflict but picked up two wins to advance. Rollins, meanwhile, advanced to meet Clay in Sunday’s semifinal.
”I am having a blast out here today, and that is what it is all about,” Rollins said.
First-round play
Wigington birdied six of the nine holes to pull away and win over Matt Rogers, 5 and 4 and Shawn Ledbetter won holes 11,12 and 13 to rally back and beat Jamarcus Stokes, 4 and 3.
”I played really well during that stretch,” Ledbetter said.
Robin Wood defeated Andrew Brooks 5 and 4. Four birdies in the first five holes helped his cause.
”I was not supposed to be here, but I advanced.” Wood said.
McGatha defeated Walker Hobbs by winning five of the first six holes.
Rollins won three of the first four holes and battled Billy Thompson the rest of the way to win, 4 and 3. Thompson was a last-minute replacement in the tournament in the early morning match.
Greg Shultz defeated Mark McCaig 4 and 3, and Caden Wood defeated Lee Hubbard 3 and 1. Clay defeated Chase Holiingsworth with a strong back nine.
Second round
Wigington won 1 up over Ledbetter.
“Last time we played, he beat me in 12 holes, so my goal was to go at least 12 holes this time,” Ledbetter said.
McGatha won 5 and 3 over Wood. It was another good start for McGatha, as he was up five holes after the front nine.
Rollins defeated Shultz 1 up in a tough, grinding match, and Clay defeated Caden Wood in the final match of the day, 5 and 3.
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