Ponte Vedra Beach, FL– Willie Mack III closed with a 2-under-par 70 to hold off Marcus Byrd and win the Billy Horschel APGA Invitational presented by Cisco for the second straight year. In addition to the APGA Tour record $40,000 winner’s check, Mack also received an exemption into the Korn Ferry Tour’s BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by TD SYNNEX.
Mack arrived at the 15th hole with a 3-stroke lead over Byrd. After an errant tee shot forced Mack to take a drop, it looked as though Byrd might have an opportunity to cut into Mack’s lead. But a clutch 18-foot bogey putt by Mack and with Byrd unable to get up-and-down from a greenside bunker, Mack held his 3-stroke cushion. Mack and Byrd traded birdies on the 16th hole and pars on the famous 17th hole at THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. After spending the last few days watching YouTube clips of Justin Thomas’ stinger off the 18th tee in the final round of the 2021 PLAYERS Championship, Mack hit a hybrid stinger of his own into the fairway then safely hit the green to cruise to a 4-stroke win.
“I enjoy this course and it is never easy winning against the competition out here on the APGA Tour,” Mack said. “Don’t get me wrong, the purse and the winner’s check are amazing, but the Korn Ferry exemption means more than money. It’s an opportunity for me to go out and play well and work my way on to that tour this year.”
Six-time PGA TOUR winner Billy Horschel hosted the event for the second year at THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. Horschel created the event as way to give players with an additional chance to compete on a PGA TOUR-level course while also providing unique initiatives focused on connecting the players with key sponsors and development opportunities. The event included an initial day of a pro-am, a trip to PGA TOUR Superstore to help the players with equipment and other needs, seminars and other development opportunities, all with key partners and industry leaders.
“Billy and I have had a great relationship over the last year or two. Personally, it means a lot to be able to count on him for advice,” Mack said. “I think his name on this event and the support he has shown our Tour and our guys opens up opportunities for all the other players to get sponsorships and gain experience on a PGA TOUR course like TPC Sawgrass.”
“Willie Mack has the game to make it on the PGA TOUR. I really believe that,” Horschel said. “I can’t thank Cisco and our other sponsors enough for helping to showcase these incredible players who are fantastic golfers and inspirational people. I truly believe that we can get at least five of these guys to the
PGA TOUR in the coming years if we can help provide them with more experience at events like this and more support with the coaching, financial backing and equipment they need to succeed.”
Byrd, who made his first career PGA TOUR start earlier this year at the Corales Puntacana Championship, hit his tee shot in the water on the 18th hole, but was able to still make bogey to maintain his runner-up finish and earn the largest paycheck of his professional career with $25,0000.
“I hadn’t made a double bogey all week and I didn’t want to break that streak on the final hole of the event,” said the 2019 Conference USA Player of the Year from Middle Tennessee State. “This has been an amazing week being here at TPC Sawgrass, seeing what Billy Horschel has done for us as players, meeting people and putting myself in position to win the event on the back nine. Obviously I would have liked to win, but the experience and the financial support from this event will go a long way towards helping me continue this year.”
Mack, whose brother Urundi caddied for him during his victory on Friday, also competed in the 2021 edition of the BMW Charity Pro-Am as a sponsor’s exemption, making his first cut in a Korn Ferry Tour event and finishing T62. He took momentum from that experience to then make the cut at both the John Deere Classic and Rocket Mortgage Classic on the PGA TOUR later in 2021.
“Hopefully this gives me the same momentum the win here gave me last year,” Mack said. “I have been playing well, my putter hasn’t been the best but I’ve been hitting the ball well. I came here last week to TPC Sawgrass to see my coach, Todd Anderson, who also coaches Billy. That lesson gave me confidence, so now I just need to prepare and get the job done.”
The list of companies and partners who are supporting the event and/or will be a part of the business development efforts includes Cisco, BDO USA, Body Armor, Farmers Insurance, Garden of Life, PGA TOUR Superstore, PGA TOUR, Polo Golf Ralph Lauren, Spartan Investment Group, The Concession Golf Club, The Exeter Group, Titleist and Velocity Global.
Established in 2010, the APGA Tour is a non-profit organization with the mission to prepare African Americans and other minority golfers to compete and win at the highest level of professional golf, both on tour and in the golf industry. This is accomplished through professional tournaments, career development and mentoring sessions.
