Calhoun County, AL – One year after slipping in a marathon playoff, the Bussey-Montenegro team take home the Sunny King Charity Classic in regulation … with the lip
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By Joe Medley
Anniston Country Club’s #. 16 hole turned into Horror Hill for Layton Bussey and Jesus Montenegro in last year’s Sunny King Charity Classic. The pair climbed the hill four times. hill during a marathon the final was a battle between Ty Cole and Gary Wigington and lost.
In the year following, Bussey and Montenegro stood firm in the midst of looking back at the No. 16 green. When they stood on the No. 17 tee, and observed Jackson King putt for birdie to give himself and his playing with partner Freeman Fite a one-shot lead Sunday, they realized they couldn’t afford to go back to the hole that was designated for playoff play.
“We simply looked at each other, and then we saw that they were successful and thought, ‘Let’s get going,'” Bussey said.
Bussey Monttenegro birdied 17 and 18 to regain the lead Then, Jackson’s 20-foot birdie shot on No. 18 fell short and narrowly prevented the Sunny King from winning his third playoff in a row of years. They finished 43-under-par, and beat Fite-King and Brennan Clay-Jeremy McGatha one stroke.
Clay McGatha came in second place in an elimination match of the scorecard with Fite-King.
Bussey as well as Montenegro each won their the first Sunny King victory, claiming the trophy that the ex- Jacksonville State University teammates so nearly and painstakingly missed out on before an audience of more than 300 one year ago.
“To me it’s a great feeling,” Montenegro said. “I had a fantastic time with my friend and that’s exactly what I was looking forward to seeing.”
Bussey-Montenegro shot 57, 56, 58 and 171 first place for the final time when Montenegro made a birdie putt of 10 feet on No. 18.
The players were part of the last group the players looked at the clubhouse from the downhill side and observed as King’s putt of 20 feet for a potential playoff-triggering birdie fell off on the No. 18 green.
“No relief however, it has put the final nail in the coffin of what we really wanted accomplish, and we’ll be back next season,” Bussey said.
It was the end of a race that raised $177,000 for thirty charities co-chairman of the tournament Brett Key announced.
Fite-King, Bussey and Cole-Gary Wigington were in a tie for the top spot on the leaderboard with a score of 31 under par after the Friday and Saturday rounds in Silver Lakes and Cider Ridge. Bussey-Montenegro bogeyed Sunday’s opening three holes, and four of the six first holes to establish the lead.
Cole-Wigington posted 8-under 62 on Sunday, but Clay McGatha shot the lowest round of the day, which was 15-under 55 in order to challenge the top spot. When they arrived on Sunday, four strokes further back the pair smashed 42 under due to McGatha’s eagle at the par-5 hole No. 17 hole and Clay’s birdie on the 18th hole, which is a par-4.
As with the other top teams, Clay-McGatha hesitantly made use of a brand-new fundraising campaign this year. The promotion allowed teams to fork out $100 to skipping no. 12. Teams that took advantage got an 0 on the hole and gained strokes relative to the par on the par-3 200-yard hole.
In the lead of the final two groups, Clay-McGatha scored 38 under after his brother-in-law made the payment of $100. They briefly led.
Clay and McGatha were not looking to be able to afford the cost of No. 12 however other teams were also doing it, in part, to keep up with the game of a side between players.
“We needed to do,” McGatha said.
Clay known as No. 12 “a key hole … which you can make bogeys in a flash.”
It’s not worth it. Taking the zero to gain three strokes “is not golf for my mind,” Clay said. “I get it. I’m a big fan of charity, and I’m sure everyone else does too. it But that’s not golf.
“I’m hoping next year this will not be the case. It’s true that you could pay a fee and possibly strike from top tees, or something similar. You should at least get to the point where you need to perform something.”
Clay McGatha’s Sunday run added excitement as it came down the stretch and Fite-King took the lead after two holes left in their own course.
Fite-King in the lead along and three teams came from Friday’s first session of play at Silver Lakes and two other teams that were left after Saturday’s Cider. They remained in contention until Sunday.
“I did not drive it today,”” Fite said. “The last two holes are likely to be troublesome when you’re not on the fairway. Two holes to avoid.”
However, King nearly holed the 20-foot birdie on No. 18 in order to make a shootout against Bussey-Montenegro.
“I thought it was a center cut,”” King said. “I am referring to an extremely difficult putt. You must match the speed and line. And it’s caught the lip. This is all there is. I could not have made an even better shot.”
The victory for the victorious team was a treat, especially after the agony of last year’s final result.
“We were very competitive last year, and got ourselves to a strong position,” Bussey said.
Bussey is from the area, having played as a star at White Plains High School, which he won the State Class 4A co-medalist in the year 2016. Montenegro was from Argentina has won the Latin-American Tour in 2022 and took part in the tour in 2018.
The two were able to meet during their time at Jax State and formed a friendship.
“I do not earn an income as he does,” Bussey said. “I was aware that it was important to me, so I considered it. People kept asking me about it every day.
“The setting is what makes it unique. For him, it was something to even desire to return and play again. We had a wonderful time and are great buddies, and have played many times together in golf however, in an environment that is competitive such as this, sort of the stadium atmosphere It’s a great experience.”
