Marcus Byrd cruises to victory in APGA event at St. Johns Golf and Country Club
Marcus Byrd made it look easy.
Byrd fired off rounds of 66-67--131 on March 20-21 at the St. Johns Golf and Country Club to win his fourth Advocates Professional Golf Tour victory by 10 shots over Davin White, Kevin Hall and Zachary Juhasz.
It was his second victory in three starts this year for the 25-year-old former Middle Tennessee player from Washington D.C. It also came after he made back-to-back starts in the PGA Tour's Genesis Invitational and Honda Classic.
He earned $7,500 for the victory.
Byrd entered the second round with a three-stroke lead and put the issue to rest by shooting 5-under 31 on the front line.
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“I was extremely fortunate to have two opportunities to play on the PGA Tour," Byrd said. "Those events played a monumental factor for me this week. I really found a lot of confidence in my game and in my process. Being out there just gave me even more belief in myself and how to control my game."
The APGA Tour was established in 2010 as a non-profit organization with the mission to bring greater diversity to the game of golf. The APGA Tour Board of Directors works to accomplish this by hosting and operating professional golf tournaments, player development programs, and mentoring programs and introducing the game to inner city young people.
State Open purses bumped
The LIV Golf League is offering unprecedented money. The PGA Tour in response has raised its purses.
The Florida State Golf Association is following suit, albeit in more modest amounts.
The purses for the Florida Open, Florida Senior Open and Florida Women’s Open and Florida Women's Senior Open have been increased by more than $50,000.
The purse for the Florida Open will be $125,000, an increase of $25,000. The Florida Senior Open will see an increase of $13,000, putting the total championship purse at $65,000. The Florida Women’s Open & Senior will now have a combined purse of $65,000, an increase of $15,000.
“The game of golf is in a great place and we are excited that our Club Professionals will have the opportunity to compete for some of the largest purses in the country,” said Jeff Magaditsch, FSGA Executive Director, in a statement.
The 77th Florida Open will be at The Golf Club at Crown Colony and Cypress Lake Golf Club July 14-16.
The 46th Florida Senior Open is May 1-3 at Lakewood National Golf Club in Lakewood Ranch. The Florida Women’s Open & Senior Open will be played on the same dates, July 28-30, at Grand Harbor Golf & Beach Club in Vero Beach.
For information on entering FSGA events, visit fsga.org.
Former FSU golf coach passes
Ernie Lanford, who played baseball at Florida State, led the golf team to five NCAA appearances in nine years as the coach, then became the coordinator of internships for the FSU Dedman School of Hospitality's professional golf management program, died last week at the age of 85.
"He was a lovely person who lived for Florida State," said son Michael Lanford.
Lanford graduated from FSU in 1960 and played three seasons on the baseball team, as a shortstop. He was also an assistant for the 'Noles baseball team for three years.
Lanford, who also earned a master's degree in physical education from Michigan State and a Doctorate of Education in kinesiology from Brigham Young, returned to FSU in 1991 as its director of golf and men's head golf coach.
"For me, coach's legacy goes well beyond golf," said FSU men's golf coach Trey Jones.
As a member of the Dedman faculty, Lanford also served as its director of player development and taught as an associate in hospitality. He earned the FSU University Teaching Excellence Award in 2006 and 2007.
Lanford and wife Sandra were married 55 years.
Area duo contends in FSGA event
Lori Collins of Jacksonville and Shan Giordano of St. Augustine shot a best-ball 159 and finished second in the super-senior division of the FSGA Senior Women's Four-Ball championship at Marsh Landing.
Collins and Giordano finished five shots behind winners Patricia Hughes-Gelardi of Palm Beach Gardens and Ruth Averback of Sarasota.
Therese Quinn of Jacksonville and Lin Culver of Palm Coast tied for fifth in the senior division.
Ossi wins in Lake City
Benny Ossi III of Ponte Vedra Beach shot 74 to win the Florida Junior Tour Lake City Open boys 9-10 division by four shots. The tournament was shortened to one round because of a rain-out on the first day.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Marcus Byrd goes on front-nine tear to win APGA event at St. Johns G&CC
