Jacob’s Ladder

LeCroy fires 4-under-par 66, climbs to lead of Wilfred Galbraith Invitational going into final round on his home course.

By Joe Medley

ANNISTON — Jacob LeCroy rounds the turn from Anniston Country Club’s 19th Hole restaurant, into a side room, and sees little-kid tables with tiny seats.

“Let’s talk there,” he tells a reporter.

LeCroy was like a kid playing in his backyard during Saturday’s second round of the Wilfred Galbraith Invitational at Anniston Country Club. He shot a 4-under-par 66 to overtake first-round leader Gary Wigington for a two-stroke lead headed into Sunday’s final round.

Per tradition in this three-round tournament, first-round leaders tee off earliest. The lead group of LeCroy, Wigington, Layton Bussey and Tanner Wells were approaching No. 18 green at noon.

LeCroy was coming off the glow of a three-hole stretch that went birdie-birdie-eagle.

Wigington, who shot a 5-under 65 Friday, had a tough back nine Saturday, including a bogey on 16 and doubles on 14 and 18.

**Jacob LeCroy putts on No. 18 during Saturday’s second round of the Wilfred Galbraith Invitational at Anniston Country Club. (Photo by Joe Medley/East Alabama Sports Today)**

LeCroy, seeking his fourth Wilfred Galbraith victory and third in four years, found himself way ahead of schedule.

“I birdied 6 and 7, and I started gaining a little bit on ‘Twig’ (Wigington), and he was still up on me really good at the time,” LeCroy said. “I bogey 8 and 9, and it’s kind of like, ‘Goodness gracious! I’m not playing bad, but I had a feeling that I could, somehow, catch up over the next 27 holes.

“On 10, I’m like, ‘I’ve got 27 holes left to catch up,’ because he was playing good. I get on the back nine and played really good.”

LeCroy shot 5-under 31 on the back nine and found himself in the lead with 18 holes to go. His eagle on 17 showed his mastery of ACC’s greens.

Hit right, over the trees and into No. 10 fairway, but his 7-iron shot from 197 yards put him in position.

“I knew, if I just hit it OK, it would cover the bunker and leave me short of it,” he said. “Sure enough, I flushed it, and it was above the hole, and I made a bender from 20 foot.

“It could’ve broke 10 foot, if I wanted. It just depended on pace.”

LeCroy said he had “no thought” of catching Wigington by the end of Saturday’s round. He knows what can happen on Sunday.

“I know he’s going to be going at it tomorrow,” LeCroy said.

LeCroy, part of state-championship and runner-up teams at Donoho School, was a regular at the Wilfred Galbraith even during his years playing collegiately at South Alabama. Now graduated and set to get married in June, he’s moved back home and is able to play in more of the Calhoun County Golf Tour’s events, including his victory at Cane Creek to open the season.

Winning on his home course still holds special meaning.

“I just know what every putt does before I ever get out there,” he said. “It just depends on green speed after that.

“I’m excited, I’m ready to play tomorrow. We’ll just see what tomorrow holds.”

First-round leader Gary Wigington shakes hands with new leader Jacob LeCroy after they finished second-round play in the Wilfred Galbraith Invitational on Saturday at Anniston Country Club. (Photo by Joe Medley/East Alabama Sports Today)

Scores through second round

CHAMP A
PLAYER	RD. 1-2	TOTAL
Jacob LeCroy	69-66	135
Gary Wigington	65-72	137
Kevin Daugherty	70-70	140
Tanner Wells	68-74	142
Layton Bussey	69-74	143
Ty Cole	71-72	143
Dalton Chandler	70-74	144
Chandler Wilborn	73-71	144
Garrett Burgess	75-69	144
Caleb Bowen	73-73	146
Ryan Howard	73-73	146
Jeff Chapman	73-75	148
Phillip Frazier	74-74	148
Carson Chandler	71-78	149
Jack Svensen	77-72	149
CHAMP B
PLAYER	RD. 1-2	TOTAL
Greg Shultz	74-78	152
Matt Hunter	76-76	152
Ott Chandler	76-77	153
Randy Lipscomb	78-75	153
Will Reaves	74-80	154
Timmy Woodard	73-82	155
Jonathan Pate	76-79	155
Cam Hurst	76-80	156
Jeremy McGatha	76-81	157
Bob Eaton	77-80	157
Keaton Borrelli	76-81	157
Ryan Huff	81-76	157
CHAMP C
PLAYER	RD. 1-2	TOTAL
Dre Davenport	80-78	158
Jeff Bain	80-79	159
Scott Murphree	78-82	160
Bennett Hubbard	80-80	160
Rob Svensen	81-79	160
Ted Gregerson	78-84	162
Matt Rogers	81-81	162
Caden Wood	81-81	162
Aaron Gregerson	77-87	164
Hank Smith	80-84	164
Benji Turley	77-87	164
Graham Morrow	81-85	166
SENIORS
NAME	RD. 1	TOTAL
David Sanders	72	72
Donald Springer	82	82
Mike Thompson	85	85
Tim Steward	86	86
Dennis Austin	88	88
Eric Stringer	91	91
Don Whitlow	96	96
FIRST FLIGHT
PLAYER	RD. 1	TOTAL
Jake Goggans	70	70
Taylor Jones	73	73
Ethan McCareeth	73	73
Tyler Huckaby	74	74
Cain Hollingsworth	75	75
Mark Durden	75	75
Caleb Morrow	76	76
Josh Ballew	78	78
Chip Howell	79	79
Trent Leemaster	80	80
Kole Chandler	80	80
Henry Pritchett	80	80
Michael Downey	80	80
SECOND FLIGHT
PLAYER	RD. 1	TOTAL
Billy Thompson	82	82
Brian Woodfin	82	82
Kyle Daugherty	82	82
Chance Harris	82	82
Bailey Masters	83	83
Heath Waldrop	83	83
Devan Williams	83	83
Kolby Slick	83	83
Bubba Willingham	84	84
Mason Aulsbrook	86	86
Joe Hedgepeth	86	86
Park Denton	86	86
THIRD FLIGHT
PLAYER	RD.`1	TOTAL
Greg Rainey	87	87
Justin Goree	87	87
Matt Greer	87	87
Easton Jones	88	88
James Harrison	88	88
Hunter Fordham	88	88
Mark Cotton	89	89
Tyler TenEyck	89	89
Andrew Gunnells	90	90
Mark Hansil	90	90
Mark Gaines	91	91
Scott Jimerson	91	91
Bradley Elliott	91	91
FOURTH FLIGHT
PLAYER	RD. 1	TOTAL
John Hutto	92	92
Toan Nguyen	94	94
Chase Arnold	95	95
Judson Miller	96	96
Landon Price	98	98
Isaac Scroggins	99	99
Clay Culbert	100	100
Keith Hutcheson	101	101
Adam Benefiel	102	102
Larry Champion	102	102
Marley Hedgepeth	105	105
Ethan Beadles	106	106
Shane Bowman	107	107
Cole McBride	109	109