LOS ANGELES – Former Bethune-Cookman University golfer Willie Mack III made the best start by a Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption recipient since 2014 at The Genesis Invitational Thursday at Riviera Country Club.

Mack III shot a 1-under 70 on Thursday morning at Riviera Country Club, quickly recovering from mistakes and putting himself in position to make the 36-hole cut. Mack is tied for 35^th, six shots behind leader Sam Burns.He failed to make the cut three weeks at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in his PGA Tour debut.

His subpar round made him just one of three Sifford Memorial Exemption recipients to finish the opening 18 under par. Harold Varner shot a 69 in 2024, Vincent Johnson a 70 in 2009.

"It was pretty good. I hit the ball pretty good. I left a couple out there, but it's a good start to the week," Mack III said after his five birdie, four bogey effort. "You have really got to keep the ball below the holes out here. I kind of managed to do that and got in with an under-par score. Getting experience at Torrey helped out a lot. I played good at Torrey Pines; I just was in the rough probably 90 percent of the time."

The highlight of his round was a 19-foot birdie on No. 9.

Only three Charlie Sifford Memorial exemption recipients have made the 36-hole cut – Joseph Bramlett in 2020, Varner in 2014 and Jeremiah Wooding tied for 42nd in 2013. Mack III won't settle for just making the cut, though.

"I'm out here trying to win like everybody else. I tee it up just like everybody else, so why not come out here and try to win," he said.