Golf: Byrd Wins APGA Tour Farmers Insurance® Invitational
LA JOLLA, CA – On a cold day in difficult conditions at the South Course at Torrey Pines Golf Course, Marcus Byrd birdied the last two holes to shoot the low round of the day with a 3-over-par for a four-stroke win, securing his third career APGA Tour victory at the APGA Tour Farmers Insurance Invitational.
Coming off a stellar end to the 2022 season which saw Byrd win the APGA Tour Farmers Insurance Fall Series bonus, Byrd took home the $30,000 winner’s check and a PGA TOUR exemption into The Honda Classic.
“The conditions today were extremely difficult, but that’s really what we want as players. We want to be tested and measure ourselves against the best. To be able to birdie the final two holes and win this event is extremely gratifying and a great way to start my season,” Byrd said. “First and foremost, I have to thank Farmers and Century Club of San Diego as well as the APGA Tour for what they've done for me and everyone here for bringing us here. We wouldn't have this opportunity and be here at Torrey Pines without them.”
One week ago, Byrd was still determining his golf schedule. Now, he has two starts coming on the PGA TOUR in the next four weeks. On Monday, Byrd was named the Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption at The Genesis Invitational in what will be his second career start on the PGA TOUR, and he will now also tee it up in The Honda Classic the following week.
“A goal of mine is just to be a sponge. I'm going to be around the best players in the world so I want to learn as much as I can, pick their brains, see how I can keep improving, make the most of these opportunities,” Byrd said. “I feel like I have the game to be there. Most importantly, I just have to learn. A lot of those guys, they've been out there for years. I'm going to take advantage of these two opportunities and learn as much as I can. And hopefully the game is in a good spot to where I can play well and perform well those weeks.”
He won the APGA Tour Valley Forge for his first win of the 2022 season and followed with a runner-up finish at the APGA Charlie Sifford Centennial. With the victory, Byrd picks up right where he left off at the end of 2023. On the year, Byrd played in 14 APGA Tour events and had 11 top-10 finishes including 8 top-3s and five runner-up finishes to go along with his victory in August. In his last eight starts on the APGA Tour, he has finishes that included T2, T2, T5, 1st, T2, 2nd and 1st.
“I feel relieved first, just seeing all the hard work pay off, to start the new year off with a win and just being able to play the game that I love,” Byrd said. “It's always good to finish off with a win, but more importantly, it's great being around this group of people, this group of guys that we play against. Just really excited for what's to come over these next couple months.”
Joey Stills finished alone in second with a birdie on the 18th hole. His best finish on the APGA Tour in 2022 came at the Billy Horschel APGA Tour Invitational presented by Cisco, where he finished 3rd at TPC Sawgrass. He also won the 2022 Jim Thorpe Invitational and recorded two wins on the OGA Tour. The son of PGA TOUR player Adrian Stills, Joey played at the University of West Florida and was a participant, and later a coach, at First Tee Gulf Coast.
