Three-way Playoff in Calhoun County

Calhoun County, AL – Fite-King, Cole-Wigington, Bussey-Montenegro atop the Sunny King Charity Classic leaderboard headed into final round. Includes updated scores, flights and tee times

By Joe Medley

Memories of last year’s Sunny King Charity Classic playoff fueled hopes for a rematch between the teams of Ty Cole-Gary Wigington and Layton Bussey-Jesus Montenegro. What could be better, right?

How about adding Jackson King-Freeman Fite to the mix?

More is always better, and those three teams top the leader board headed into Sunday’s final round, all at 57-56—113 (31 under par) going into their showdown at Anniston Country Club, which happens to be King’s and FIte’s home course.

Those three teams enter the day with a three-stroke lead on Marcus Harrell-Benji Turley. Brennan Clay-Jeremy McGatha and Taylor McCollum-Tanner Wells sit four strokes back.

It all raises the possibility of an ending more grand than last year’s four-hole, into-darkness marathon, which Cole-Wigington won.

King called the specter of a battle with Cole-Wigington and Bussey-Montenegro “awesome.”

“It’s going to be a fun day, for sure,” he said.

It can’t hurt King-Fite’s chances that they’re long-time ACC members.

“We love it,” King said. “We both grew up there. We’ve both played that golf course thousands of times, so we’re excited, or glad to be in it, at least.”

Talk of a possible rematch of Cole-Wigington and Bussey-Montenego only grew when those two teams played one extra hole in last week’s Buddy Moore Charity Golf Tournament. Cole-Wigington prevailed, but their latest playoff goosed memories of their 2022 Sunny King playoff, which featured four tries at ACC’s No. 16.

King-Fite, Cole-Wigington and Bussey-Montenegro entered Saturday’s second round in a leading foursome with Dustin Travis-Sawyer Edwards. All four teams shot 15-under 57 at Silver Lakes on Friday.

King-Fite, Cole-Wigington and Bussey-Montenegro posted matching 56s on Saturday at Cider Ridge, which only sweetened the possibilities for Sunday at ACC.

King-Fite stayed in the picture thanks to a round that featured King’s eagle on No. 7 and Fite’s on No. 9. They made the turn at 10 under.

They kept pace with Cole-Wigingon, which hope to win their fifth- Sunny King title together and Wigington’s 10th. He won five with Randy Reaves.

Bussey-Montenegro, former Jacksonville State Unversity teammates, hope to finish the job after nearly winning their first last year.

Fite and King are playing their third Sunny King together, and both seek their first Sunny King victory. Fite has teamed with his dad and was Wigington’s partner between Reaves and Cole before teaming with King.

“We’ve just got to keep playing like we’ve been playing,” Fite said. “It’s a lot different there, of course. We’ll see what we can do.”

Updated scores/flights

Updated Sunday tee times