Hall of Fame
A golfer who has played in one of the world's most prestigious tournaments, Willie Mack III played three years at Bethune-Cookman, recruited by B-CU Hall of Fame coach Dr. Gary Freeman in 2008. In his time at Bethune-Cookman, Mack helped the Cats capture second place in the 23rd PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship, firing himself to a ninth place finish in that same event. In his sophomore season, he claimed a runner-up finish at the Stetson Invitational during the 2009 fall campaign, before taking the individual medalist award the following week in the SSU Tiger Fall Invite. He concluded the campaign with a runner-up finish at the 24th edition of the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship. During the summer of 2010, Mack claimed his first-ever victory in the Genesee All-Star Golf Classic at Flushing Valley Golf and Country Club in his home state of Michigan. In all, Mack won six (6) tournaments, as well as finishing in the top 10 in double-digit events across his three seasons in Daytona Beach. With his story well-documented of having lived in his car while trying to make it on the PGA Tour, Mack persevered and qualified for the 124th U.S. Open in June 2024, becoming the first B-CU golfer to ever participate in the event. Additionally, Mack became the first-ever African American to win the Michigan Amateur Championship in June 2011. In all, he has competed in eight official PGA Tour events throughout his professional career.
