DALLAS – Dallas native Brooks Simmons drained a six-foot birdie putt to win the 26th Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship, capping off a stellar week with rounds of 68-68-68—204 to finish at 6-under par.
“It feels great,” Simmons said, grinning moments after clinching the title. “That putt on 18 wasn’t easy—it was downhill and quick—but watching it drop was just incredible.”
The final hole was a pressure-packed showdown between Simmons and Jeffrey Rubenstein, his high school teammate and closest challenger. After Rubenstein rolled in a clutch birdie on No. 17 to tie things up, the stage was set for a thrilling finish.
On the No. 18 tee, Simmons pulled out a driving iron and absolutely striped it, splitting the fairway. From there, he stuck his approach to six feet—giving himself a golden opportunity. With everything on the line, Simmons calmly stepped up and buried the putt, letting out a roar of emotion as the crowd around the green erupted.
“Jeffrey made a great birdie on 17, and I missed a short one for par,” Simmons said. “I saw he went left off the tee on 18, so I knew I had to hit the fairway and give myself a chance. I did, hit a solid shot into the green, and made the putt. That’s the dream.”
With the win, Simmons joins a prestigious list of past champions that includes Jordan Spieth and adds his name to the rich history of the Byron Nelson Junior—an event he grew up watching.
“It’s awesome to have my name next to Spieth and all the great players who’ve won this tournament,” Simmons said. “And to do it here in Dallas makes it even more special.”
Rubenstein, who fired rounds of 66-68-71 to finish at 5-under, took solo second in what marked his first top-10 finish at the championship.
Tied for third at 2-under were Coltrane Mittag of Ashland, Nebraska, and Declan Dent of Grapevine. Finishing T-5 at 1-under were Oliver Betschart of Bermuda and the Parmar brothers, Shiv and Aadi, of Selma. Rounding out the top 10 were Nathan Miller of Dallas and Mackey Beckett of Lakeway, who tied for ninth at even-par.
This year’s championship once again delivered on its reputation as Texas’ most prestigious all-boys junior golf event, showcasing top talent on a pristine and challenging layout at Lakewood Country Club.
The 26th Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship wouldn’t be possible without the ongoing support of Malcolm Holland and the entire Veritex Bank team, along with the dedicated staff and membership at Lakewood, who continue to make this event a must-play on the junior circuit.
Up next on the Legends Junior Tour is the Flodder Financial Shootout, set for The Club at Falcon Point in Katy, Texas.
To view Final Results of the 26th Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship, click here.