Silver Lakes –Lessons of ’22, lessons on wedge play. Wigington begin ’23 Calhoun County Golf Tour with a 66 and lead the three players by 4 strokes. This includes scores by flight, tee times and information on a hole-in one.

by Joe Medley

Gary Wigington took lessons from his 2022 Calhoun County golf season ended in a literal way, and it may have helped him reverse an ongoing trend of hard start to the beginning of the season.

A few rounds into the season of 2023, Wigington found himself to the top of the field for the RTJ Silver Lakes Championship, shooting a 6-under par 66 to be ahead of Jeremy McGatha, Corey Ray and Dane Moore by four strokes.

Champion of the tour in defending Brennan Clay and Scott Martin are tied for third place with 71.

The championship of last year’s tour was decided by the tie-breaker of Wigington as well as Clay after Wigington was hit with two triple bogeys during the last nine holes at the County Championship.

“It was a rough start and I hope you can start off on an improved start in the new year and ensure you are in a place to be able to be successful at the final day of the year,”” Wigington said.

In the hope of getting started on the right foot in the new year Wigington was back in golfing school, so to say. He received a golf lesson from Brian Speakman, a Birmingham-based instructor around a month ago, hoping to bring the wedge game to a good level.

“It was simply two things he asked me to try something different,” Wigington said. “I’ve played with it with the result that my wedge playing is much better than it has been in the past few years.

“I’ve struggled with wedge shots, and this (lesson) by itself has really helped greatly.”

In terms of the lessons learned from 2022’s end It’s all about focusing He stated.

“The final two rounds, in one period, it’s been difficult to maintain the focus,” he said. “It is like I’d have the bogey, double or even the triple, in a situation that I shouldn’t have been in. anything more than an even par.

“Today I tried to be focused on each shot and not go up there and then just hit it, and not pay attention on the shot, which can result in an unsound shot and the hole to be a disaster.”

All of it was poured into the drink which helped Wigington begin the county tour with what he described as “a great day.”

He had seven birdies and a bogey. the 14th hole, Backbreaker No. 5. The birdies were in Heartbreaker Nos. 1, 6 and 7, along with Backbreaker Nos. 3 7, 4, and 9.

He was able to hit 16 greens, and had plenty of birdie shots.

“I put myself in good places and putt some good shots,” he said.

McGatha described his 70th birthday as “lucky.”

He “putted well on the front, and hit 33.” the player said. “Back nine shot decently, but did not make a mistake. I hit a 37.

“I was not expecting anything, so I’m satisfied with the result.”

Other highlights of this day were Clay’s Eagle on the 18th hole Backbreaker No. 9.

“The hole shot from the tee had a bit of anger in the shot,” the golfer said. “Had 147 yards before the hole then hit it at approximately 6 feet, and then made it.”

Kolby Slick scored a hole-in-one on the Backbreaker 152-yard No. 2. His teammates included Taylor Vera, Cain Hollingsworth and Chance Harris.

“As when I touched it I knew I had did flush it out,” Slick said. “Vera was like”Oh, that’s definitely going to be great.’

“It was about 6 feet away from the pin. the crowd started screaming”Go in! Go in!’ I saw the ball go down and then everyone was in a frenzy. My group was lucky enough to was only able to hit me with one drink and my pockets didn’t hurt as much.” It’s a good idea to Find more sports news stories…]

The RTJ Silver Lakes Championship


FIRST-ROUND SCORE

Championship A Flight

Gary Wigington 66

Corey Ray 70

Dane Moore 70

Jeremy McGatha 70

Brennan Clay 71

Scott Martin 71

Kevin Daugherty 72

Daily Thomas 72

Randy Reaves 73

Cam Hurst 73

Andrew Brooks 73

Championship B Flight

Justin Graveman 74

Alex Harper 75

John Rollins 75

Landon Straub 76

Sawyer Edwards 76

Randy Lipscomb 77

Clayton Chandler 77

Dustin Travis 77

Jonathan Swader 78

Will Reaves 78

Blake Cole 78

Tanner Wells 78

Vance Lewis 78

First Flight

Nick Ledbetter 79

Jeff Champman 80

Gage Miller 80

Cody Boyd 80

Mike Bowers 81

Brad Landin 82

Jeff Bain 82

Daniel Black 82

Ryan Powers 83

Mason Dennis 83

Second Flight

John Hagan 84

Chris Cox 84

Ross Johnson 84

Dre Davenport 85

Bob Eaton 85

Houston Black 85

Zach Graham 85

Chris Messer 85

Morgan Cunningham 85

Jackson Freeman 86

Matt Greer 86

Third Flight

Taylor Vera 87

Chance Harris 87

Tyler Berry 87

Ethan Davis 88

Robert Daniel 88

Cain Hollingsworth 88

Devin Williams 90

Joe Hedgepeth 90

Andrew Betts 90

Jake Williams 91

Fourth Flight

Brian Johnson 92

Nathan Williams 92

Michael Ledbetter 92

Kolby Slick Kolby Slick

Heath Smith 93

Tyler Graham 94

Joe Williams 94

Craig Kiker 94

Cody Wesson 95

Andrew Smith 96

Tate Heuer 98

Mike Williams 100

Andy Lang 102

Austin Martin 105

Keith Hutcheson 106

Adam Benefiel 106

Scott Jimmerson 115

Ladies Division Flight

Marlee Hedgepeth Marlee Hedgepeth

Jaycee Berrong Jaycee Berrong


TEE TIMES FOR SECOND ROUND

7.50 a.m.:Marlee Hedgepeth, Jaycee Berrong

8. a.m.: Andy Lang, Keith Hutcheson, Adam Benefiel, Scott Jimmerson

8.10 a.m.: Austin Martin, Mike Williams, Tate Heuer, Andrew Smith

8:20 a.m.: Cody Wesson, Tyler Graham, Joe Williams, Craig Kiker

9:00 a.m.:Michael Ledbetter, Brian Johnson, Kolby Slick, Heath Smith

8.40 a.m.:Joe Hedgepeth, Devin Williams, Jake Williams, Nathan Williams

8.50 a.m.:Ethan Davis, Robert Daniel, Cain Hollingsworth, Andrew Betts

9. a.m.:Matt Greer, Taylor Vera, Chance Harris, Tyler Berry

9:10 a.m.: Zach Graham, Bob Eaton, Dre Davenport, Jackson Freeman

9.20 a.m.:Ross Johnson, Houston Black, Morgan Cunningham, Chris Messer

9:30 a.m.: Mason Dennis, Chris Cox, John Hagan, Ryan Powers

9:40 a.m.: Mike Bowers, Brad Landin, Jeff Bain, Daniel Black

9:50 a.m.: Nick Ledbetter, Gage Miller, Cody Boyd, Jeff Chapman

10. a.m.:Blake Cole, Vance Lewis, Tanner Wells, Jonathan Swader

10.10 a.m.:Randy Lipscomb Clayton Chandler, Dustin Travis, Will Reaves

10:00 a.m.:Alex Harper, John Rollins, Sawyer Edwards and Landon Straub.

10:30 a.m.: Randy Reaves, Cam Hurst, Andrew Brooks, Justin Graveman

10.40 a.m.:Scott Martin, Brennan Clay, Daily Thomas, Kevin Daugherty

10:00 a.m.: Gary Wigington, Jeremy McGatha, Dane Moore, Corey Ray.