Trio Leads in Calhoun County Tournament

Calhoun County, AL – Defending champion LeCroy’s big week continues, tied with Fite and Cole for lead after one round of the Wilfred Galbraith Invitational

By Joe Medley

Jacob LeCroy accomplished a long-held goal when he qualified for the Southern Amateur Championship on Thursday, and Friday saw him take a step toward another goal.

Winning one of his favorite tournaments.

The Donoho graduate and University of South Alabama senior golfer shot a 3-under-par 67 to stand tied with Ty Cole and Freeman Fite for the lead after one round of the Wilfred Galbraith Invitational at Anniston Country Club.

The third points event on the 2023 Calhoun County Golf Tour marks LeCroy’s first appearance. It also plays out on his home course, where he shot 10 under par over the three-round event and scored a 13-stroke victory a year ago.

“It means a lot to me, because it’s my home course, where I’ve always played, for the most part,” LeCroy said. “I come out here and give my all, but I also know there are tons of other great golfers that come out here and do the same.”

LeCroy’s strong round Friday comes a day after he shot a 66 at Tuscaloosa’s Indian Hills Country Club Sto finish tied for second for second in the Southern Amateur Championship qualifier. Winner Ford Goldaisch, of Homewood, won with a 65, and Birmingham’s Chase Keys tied LeCroy at 5 under.

All three golfers qualified.

“I’ve been trying to do that for about four years now, and I finally got through,” LeCroy said.

At the Southern Amateur qualifier, LeCroy banked four birdies on the front nine then birdied 18 to reach the 5-under mark the thought he had to make.

The 117th Southern Amateur Championship plays out July 19-22 on The Honors Course, at Ooltewah, Tenn.

“I’m really excited, because I’ve had not a great year,” he said. “I just haven’t played great or really shown anything about my golf game. To finally get out there and finally shoot a number below 4 or 2 under helped me a lot.”

For now, LeCroy has work to do to match his 66-67-66 run through last year’s WIlfred Galbraith Invitational. He also has strong company. Fite, who also calls ACC his home course, delivered three birdies on the front nine, on Nos. 2, 3 and 8, and stood at 31 at the turn. He also birdied 10.

“Just a pretty solid day that stalled out on the back nine,” Fite said.

Cole, a contender on any Tour course, had six birdies, including four in a five-hole stretch between Nos. 13 and 17.

“Good round,” he said. “Other than two bad 7 irons on the front, couldn’t been better.

“I missed a few makeable putts, like everyone else. Very pleased where I am after one round. Still two to go.”

As for LeCroy, his foursome for the day included Garrett Burgess, his high school coach at Donoho. They helped the Falcons win a state title and bring home a runner-up finish in back-to-back years, 2018 and 2019.

Burgess had himself a par-70 round to stand in sixth place, behind the leading trio plus Trey Rouse (68) and Jaylon Ellison (69). Burgess also got an up-close view of his apt pupil’s day.

“With the Southern Am yesterday, it just kind of rolled over,” Burgess said. “He’s just peaking at the right moment during the summer, and the way he played today, he left three or four out there.

“I mean, 3 under was the worst he could’ve shot.”

Burgess also noted LeCroy’s progress after four seasons of college golf, at South Alabama.

“It’s really just management,” Burgess said. “His management of the game is a lot better. He doesn’t make the big numbers, and his putting has gotten a lot better, from what I’ve seen.

“I haven’t played with him much, but from what I grasp, the putting and short game have gotten a lot better.”

Birdies on Nos. 2 and 9 left LeCroy at 2 under at the turn. He went bogey-birdie on 10 and 11 then birdied 17 to tie his co-leaders, who finished earlier in the day.

“I feel like I’m playing solid,” he said. “I just had confidence. I knew what I was trying to do with the golf ball most of the day, and I was accomplishing that, for the most part.”

Scores through one round

Second-round pairings