Frierson, Lee Crowned Champions at 100th Texas Junior Amateur presented by Edwin Watts Golf Shops
FRISCO – Kaden Frierson of Austin became the 100th Texas Junior Amateur Boys Division champion after conquering Stonebriar Country Club with a 4-under 212 for the event. Lois Lee of Flower Mound dominated the Girls Division with a 9-under 207, winning by six strokes to claim her title in commanding fashion.
“You know, coming into the week we would’ve taken a top 10 or top 15 easily with how hard this course was playing, but we got it done — so now it feels really amazing,” Frierson said.
The Austin native entered the final round sitting tied for second after battling back from a 2-over 74 in Round 1. Frierson made the most of moving day, carding a bogey-free 68 on Tuesday before carrying that momentum into the final round.
Frierson played near-flawless golf on the front nine, carding just one bogey on No. 9 while going shot-for-shot with Isaiah Diaz of Del Rio, who was playing in the group ahead of him.
After a bogey on No. 13, Frierson earned the stroke right back with a birdie on No. 14. The highlight of his day came on the par-5 16th, where he stepped up to a birdie putt without hesitation and made his stroke. When the ball hit the middle of the cup and dropped, the Lubbock Christian University commit let out a fist pump that said everything — leaving no doubt just how much the moment meant.
Frierson parred Nos. 17 and 18 and walked into the clubhouse as the 100th Texas Junior Amateur presented by Edwin Watts Golf Shops Boys Division champion.
With the win, Frierson earned an exemption into the 78th U.S. Junior Amateur at Saucon Valley Country Club.
“It’s amazing, you know,” Frierson said of the exemption. “I wasn’t doing qualifying just because of Junior World Golf, but we’re going to both — so we’re going to Saucon.”
Rounding out the top five in the Boys Division, Diaz and Aadi Parmar of Selma tied for second at 2-under 214. Diaz, competing in the Boys Division for the first time after moving up, is a clear look at what’s to come from the talented player. In solo fourth was University of Texas commit Declan Dent, while Brayden Verret of Farmers Branch and University of Michigan commit Mackey Beckett of Lakeway tied for fifth.
In the Girls Division, Lee entered the final round with a five-stroke lead over the field, knowing consistency would be the key to closing it out over 18 more holes.
Two early bogeys in the first three holes briefly invited the field back into the conversation — but Lee quickly silenced any doubt. She birdied Nos. 4 and 7 before holing out for an eagle on No. 9, a stretch that put the tournament firmly back in her hands. Lee continued to pull away with birdies on Nos. 11 and 14, and walked off No. 18 as the 100th Texas Junior Amateur presented by Edwin Watts Golf Shops Girls Division champion and the owner of her first Legends Junior Tour major championship.
“I think it went pretty well,” Lee said of her week. “I think I kept it steady and took it shot by shot.”
With the win, Lee earned an exemption into the 77th U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur at Old Chatham Golf Club — a result that carries extra meaning given how close she came to punching her ticket the traditional way.
“It feels so amazing,” Lee said with a laugh. Lee was the first alternate out of the Nutcracker Golf Club U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur qualifier just last month. “I was a little disappointed I lost the playoff at the qualifier that got me alternate one, but now it’s official that I punched my ticket.”
Rounding out the top five in the Girls Division, University of Illinois women’s golf commit Eileen Lee of Plano finished second at 3-under 213. Quinn Timmerman of Boerne and Jacqueline Zhuang of Dallas tied for third at 2-under 214, while Michelle Lee of San Antonio finished solo fifth at 1-under 215.
The Legends Junior Tour would like to thank Stonebriar Country Club staff and membership for their hospitality and generosity in hosting the 100th Texas Junior Amateur presented by Edwin Watts Golf Shops.
The Legends Junior Tour would like to thank Edwin Watts Golf Shops for serving as the presenting sponsor of the 100th Texas Junior Amateur. To learn more about Edwin Watts Golf Shops, click here.
Next for the Legends Junior Tour is the inaugural Texas Junior Match Play at High Meadow Ranch from July 6-9.
To view final results, click here.
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