Flint’s Willie Mack III Gears Up for Rocket Mortgage Classic

Flint native and former Grand Blanc Bobcat, Willie Mack III, has earned his way into this week's Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club, despite not initially having a sponsor exemption.

He secured his spot with a commanding performance in the John Shippen Invitational, where he clinched victory with a 7-under total over two days of play at Detroit Golf Club. This qualifying tournament featured the top Black professional and amateur golfers from around the nation.

Mack shot a stellar 63 on Saturday followed by a solid 74 on Sunday. His final score put him two shots ahead of Nyasha Mauchaza, who finished at 5 under, with Kevin Hall and Cameron Riley tied for third at 2 under.

The win not only secured Mack a spot in the Rocket Mortgage Classic but also earned him $13,200 from the inaugural John Shippen event. The 35-year-old golfer demonstrated his skill and resilience, particularly on Sunday when he overcame a tough front nine plagued by windy conditions.

Looking ahead to the Rocket Mortgage Classic, Mack is readying to compete in his second PGA Tour event of the season, having recently played in the U.S. Open where he just missed the cut. His previous experience in Detroit, where he made his first PGA Tour cut in 2021, adds to his anticipation for this upcoming tournament. Mack's success in securing a spot through qualifying underscores his determination and readiness to perform on the big stage once again.

Hopefully, having just played the course at Detroit Golf Club will give him an advantage come tee time.

The winner of this week's Rocket Morgage Classic will go home with a whopping 1.6 million dollars. The tournament's first round tees off on Thursday morning.

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