There have been a lot of ups and downs in the golfing career of one Mr. Willie Mack III. Over the years he has risen from a precarious perch that led to him nearly losing his life on a Central Florida highway after his car caught on fire in November 2018. He lost everything he owned in the car except his life and his golf clubs. He has also risen to the level of earning playing privileges on the Latinoamerica Tour and has made two cuts in PGA Tour events. He closed out his fifteenth season on the Advocates PGA Tour where he has 17 wins.
Currently, the 37 year-old Mack III, is enjoying himself and his game after winning the final Farmers Fall Series event at Tustin Ranch GC in California. Mack III came from ninth place on the leaderboard after an opening 69 and raced to the top after posting a jaw-dropping 63 (-9) that put him in the house with 132 (-12), one shot clear of best friend and runner-up Aaron Grimes of Compton who posted 68-65-133 (-11). This win, coupled with his victory in Las Vegas, boosted Mack III to the top of the Farmers Fall series points list that comes with a bonus check in the amount of $7,000. APGA rookie Jonathan Yoshihiro, of Yorba Linda and a product of Cal State Fullerton, and Jaime Lopez Rivarola collected bonuses of $5,000 and $3,000, respectively, for finishing second and third in the series. Mack III’s winner’s share of the $35,000 prize money is $10,500 which makes for a really good week. His two wins only helped him build confidence as he and six other APGA Tour players head to Second Stage Q-School in December.
On the Champions Tour, former APGA Tour player Tim O’Neal was in Phoenix for the Schwab Cup finale at the Phoenix Country Club and the 53-year old golfer had a tough go of it. O’Neal was one of 36 golfers from the Champions Tour to make it to the final event of the season and after the first round that’s where O’Neal stood after an opening 79 (+8) put him in last place. O’Neal had three straight double bogies on holes 13-14-15 and posted a 42 on the back nine. The Schwab Cup is a no-cut event and O’Neal found his game the next three rounds and posted 68-67-66 and was -12. He finished the tournament alone in the 30th position at 280 (-4) and earned $21,000. It wasn’t pretty, but he never quit and his golf was mighty good over the final three days. Golf is a fickle game and loves no one.
Stewart Cink topped the PGA Tour Champions leaderboard this week with a win in the final of the Charles Schwab Cup playoffs, by two shots over Steven Alker (266 -18) after posting 20-under 264. He earned $528,000 for the win and Alker took home $300,000. Three golfers, Tommy Gainey, Freddie Jacobson and Jerry Kelly took home $215,000 each after tying for third at 15-under 269.
Speaking of fickle, Joseph Bramlett, Cameron Champ and APGA player Chase Johnson were in Bermuda for the Butterfield Championship and neither one of them made the cut. Bramlett missed the mark of even par by a single stroke. He posted rounds of 74-69-143 (+1). Johnson posted 78-71-149 (+7) and Champ was another shot back after posting 76-74-150 (+8). Both, Bramlett and Champ will need to participate in the Final Stage Q-School to improve their status for the 2026 PGA season. Johnson failed to move on to the Second Stage and will focus his attention on the 2026 APGA Tour. Other Teebits: The Wigwam in Litchfield Park was the host site for the Celebration of Life for Leonard F. Walker III on Saturday afternoon. Leonard lost his battle with cancer on October 4 after fighting the good fight. Family and friends including Mother Juanita Walker of Laveen, Brother Andy Walker and wife who flew in from Michigan, Leonard’s wife and children and grandkids along with many Desert Mashie members, former golfing buddies, friends and co-workers. The guests were treated to an afternoon lunch/brunch and drinks and stories were shared highlighting special times throughout the years. Former Desert Mashie junior golfers Joey Hochevar and Danny Campos were also present. Those two golfers along with Andy and A.J. Hochevar were some of the best golfers in the valley. Andy went on to attend Pepperdine and was a member of its NCAA Championship Golf Team in 1997. It was great reconnecting with them and remembering those special times not so long ago.
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