PONTE VEDRA, FL. — Willie Mack III is from Flint, Michigan, and his golf base is in Orlando.
But the 33-year-old mini-tour legend loves playing — and winning — on Florida’s First Coast.
Mack took a step towards capturing an APGA Tour event in the area for a third time in nine months when he carved out a bogey-free 3-under 69 on a sultry, calm Thursday to finish in a three-way tie for the lead with club professional Wyatt Worthington and former Middle Tennessee State golfer Marcus Byrd in the first round of the Billy Horschel Invitational at the Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass.
Mack birdied Nos. 4, 8, and 16 and made a couple of tough 5-foot putts for par to close out the round, the last to convert from the left bunker at No. 18. Worthington, who qualified for the PGA Championship in two weeks at Southern Hills, caught Mack with a two-putt birdie at No. 16 and a tap-in at No. 17 after he cozied a 9-iron to within a foot of the hole.
Wyatt Worthington watches his tee shot sail down the 18th fairway of the Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass during Thursday’s first round of the APGA Billy Horschel Invitational.
Unlike Mack, Worthington had two stumbles, with bogeys at Nos. 7 and 13.
”It’s Pete Dye,” said Worthington, the head pro at the Golf Depot in Columbus, Ohio. “He makes you think on every tee.”
Byrd, from Washington D.C., who won the Georgia State Junior in 2013 after moving to Atlanta, had the only eagle of the day among the 18-man field, at No. 11.
Mack won at Queen’s Harbour in March and at the Stadium Course last July, in the inaugural Horschel Invitational. He won $25,000 in that event but thanks to sponsors such as Cisco Systems, the purse this week is a record $125,000, with $40,000 going to the winner.
”I’ve won a lot in Florida, mostly in the winter months,” he said. “Yeah … I like Florida.”
Mack fired his third consecutive 69 at the Stadium Course. He shot 69-69–138 to win the Horschel Invitational last summer.
Mack said he plays his best golf on the toughest courses, where finding the fairway is at a premium, and the Stadium always qualifies, regardless of the time of year.
”Last year it was a lot firmer,” Mack said of the Stadium Course. “The greens are softer this year but a bogey-free round out here is great. It’s one of the hardest courses on the PGA Tour and if you keep it in the fairway, it makes the rounds a little less stressful.”
Mack won his sixth APGA tournament and his 70th professional title at Queen’s Harbour. He also has received sponsor invitations to PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour events and has made two PGA Tour cuts — including the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit, near his hometown.
He said winning never gets old.
“And in this one, the money is really good,” he said.
APGA Tour Billy Horschel Invitational
At Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass
First round
Willie Mack III 34-35–69
Marcus Byrd 34-35–69
Wyatt Worthington 35-34–69
Rovonta Young 36-35–71
Kamaiu Johnson 36-36–72
Everett Whitten 33-39–72
Ryan Alford 37-35–72
Davin White 37-35–72
Joseph Stills 36-36–72
Troy Taylor II 35-39–74
Mahindra Lutchman 38-36–74
Michael Herrera 35-40–75
Trey Valentine 37-38–75
Mulbe Dillard IV 41-34–75
Kevin Hall 40-36–76
Aaron Beverly 41-36–77
Andrew Walker 39-41–80
Olajuwon Ajanaku 40-41–81