Marcus Byrd started the year as a winner and that trend has continued all season long.
The 25-year-old won for the third time in four starts this season on the APGA Tour after claiming the event at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois, on Tuesday. Byrd shot rounds of 66-67 to win by two shots at 9 under over Chase Johnson, who shot the low round Tuesday with an 8-under 63, and Jarred Garcia, both finished T-2 at 7 under.
Byrd won the season-opening APGA Tour Farmers Insurance Invitational at Torrey Pines, as well as the APGA Florida and APGA Scottsdale. He also earned exemptions for three PGA Tour events: the Genesis Invitational, Honda Classic and Wells Fargo Championship.
“The PGA Tour experience is definitely a huge help. It’s cool to see how hard those guys work. I learned about being calm and to stay within myself,” said Byrd, who earned $7,500 of the $25,000 purse. “I overcame adversity there and overall with the PGA Tour experience, I now understand what I need to do.”
The event at TPC Deere Run was also the debut of the 2023 Cisco Junior Series, which consists of four tournaments where 18-and-under minority players compete at APGA Tour events. Jayden Lizama won the boys division after rounds of 71-73, while Staci Pla won the girls with rounds of 71-74.
The APGA Tour returns to play with the APGA Tour at Valhalla, July 23-25, in Louisville, Kentucky.
Story originally appeared on GolfWeek