Jerke, Lee, and Lieu Claim North Texas Classic Titles
DALLAS – Cullen Jerke shoots a final round 69 to win the 2026 North Texas Classic. Lois Lee of Flower Mound shoots an even-par 70 to win the Girls Division. In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Theodore Lieu holds on to his Round 1 lead to win after a strong final round 67.
Champions: Cullen Jerke of Austin delivered the Boys Division’s only under-par performance, shooting rounds of 70 and 69 to finish at 1-under-par and capture the Boys Division title at the North Texas Classic. The victory marks his first career win on the Legends Junior Tour (LJT).
Embracing a disciplined strategy to “play boring golf” during the final round, Jerke focused on hitting fairways and greens to create scoring opportunities. Capitalizing on a tight leaderboard, he executed his game plan with precision, carding birdies on holes 2, 7, and 9 against only two bogeys to secure a two-stroke victory over the field. The win earns Jerke valuable exemptions into several major tournaments, including the 2027 Texas Junior Amateur, the 2027 Huntington Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship, and the 2027 Bluebonnet Championship, alongside continued status in upcoming LJT events.
Lois Lee erased a first-round deficit with a stellar, even-par 70 featuring four crucial birdies, surging to the top of the leaderboard to capture a one-stroke victory. The victory further cements an extraordinary season for the current Girls Player of the Year points leader and 100th Texas Junior Amateur Champion. Lee has been the model of consistency, finishing in the top 10 in every Legends Junior Tour (LJT) event she has entered this year. With this latest triumph, she collects another 1,000 Player of the Year points, solidifying her position at the top of the standings as the tour heads into its final stretch.
Theodore Lieu of Dallas secured his first victory of the season in impressive fashion, firing back-to-back rounds of 67 to capture the North Texas Classic. Defending a narrow Round 1 lead under mounting pressure on the final day, Lieu carded five birdies against just two bogeys to edge out runner-up Reed Rodriguez by a single stroke. This breakthrough victory adds a win to an already great season. Lieu’s consistency has been a defining hallmark of his season, highlighted by three previous top 5 finishes. Most notably, his solo third-place finish at the historic 100th Texas Junior Amateur cemented his status as one of the state’s premier rising talents. With this hard-fought win in the books, Lieu carries significant momentum into the remainder of the tournament circuit as he looks to add to his trophy case.
In Contention: Austin McCollum of Wichita Falls secured a stellar solo second-place finish, sealing his runner-up status in dramatic fashion with a clutch birdie on the 18th hole. Meanwhile, Bryar Murphy of Gunter demonstrated his seamless transition into a tougher age bracket. After capturing an impressive second-place finish in the Boys 14-and-Under Division at last year’s North Texas Classic, Murphy claimed a share of third place in this year’s Boys Division. Sharing the third-place podium step alongside Murphy are Andrew Bird of Nacogdoches and Federico Montaner of Spring, both of whom put together a pair of consistent, hard-fought rounds to finish the tournament at 2-over-par 142.
Madeline Buckley mounted a stellar charge in the Girls Division, firing a division best, 1-under-par 69. Overcoming a double bogey on the 10th hole after an even front nine, Buckley caught fire down the stretch by carding three consecutive birdies on holes 16, 17, and 18 to secure an impressive solo second finish. Meanwhile, Alivia Bravo of Lantana claimed third place with a steady 2-over-par round, punctuated by an eagle on the 14th hole.
In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Reed Rodriguez put together a stellar wire-to-wire challenge. Starting with a strong 2-under 68 in the opening round to position himself right in the thick of contention. Playing with relentless determination during the final round, the Missouri City native applied maximum pressure battling Lieu all day. Rodriguez was flawless through 17 holes with four birdies and zero bogeys. However, a bogey on the 18th hole ultimately proved decisive, leaving him just one stroke back in solo second place. Despite the narrow finish, Rodriguez delivered a standout performance all weekend and carries strong momentum into the final stretch of the season. Wyatt Brindza out of Celina finished in third and was the only other player in the division under par after shooting a 2-under 68. Brindza is familiar with the North Texas Classic and Cedar Crest Golf Course, he previously finished in 3rd place at last year’s North Texas Classic.
Golf Course: Cedar Crest Golf Course is hosting the North Texas Classic for the second time in the tournament’s eleven-year history with the Legends Junior Tour. As an A.W. Tillinghast designed course, Cedar Crest is home of the 1927 PGA Championship and Golf Channel televised event, the Southwest Airlines Showcase. Tillinghast is also the creator behind Texas courses such Colonial Country Club, Lakewood Country Club, and Brook Hollow Golf Club.
The course also hosted the Dallas Open in 1936 and the USGA Public Links Championship in 1954. Located in Southern Dallas, the par 70 golf course offers a challenge to the field, stretching out to 6,600 yards in the Boys Division, 6,100 yards in the Boys 14 & Under Division and 5,600 yards in the Girls Division. Cedar Crest Golf Course is also home to the I AM a Golfer Foundation.
I AM a Golfer Foundation is committed to being a catalyst for community renewal and transformation in southern Dallas by delivering impactful programming, preserving the historic Cedar Crest Golf Course, and promoting inclusive access to the game of golf for youth and families. Through their junior golf program, they have introduced over 2,000 local kids to the sport, offering meaningful instruction and life-shaping experiences.
The paid internship program has provided high school and college young adults with hands-on, career-building opportunities, while their scholarship initiative has awarded over $400,000 in college support to 46 deserving students. For more on their work and how you can get involved, visit www.iamagolfer.com.
Tournament Format: The North Texas Classic is a 36-hole stroke play event for players 12-18 years old. All players in the field are required to have an active membership with the Texas Junior Golf Alliance. The North Texas Classic kicked off the Fall Swing of the Legends Junior Tour schedule.
Weather: Junior golfers faced intense heat and pristine, sun-drenched conditions over the weekend at Cedar Crest Golf Course in Dallas, Texas. Clear, sunny skies dominated the day with a high reaching 102°F to 104°F. Winds remained light at 8 to 10 mph, testing player endurance and course management under high-heat conditions.
Player of the Year Points: Lieu, Lee, and Jerke all will be awarded 1,000 Player of the Year points for their wins this weekend. For the full Player of the Year points list, click here.
Texas Junior Golf Alliance: The Alliance is a joint venture between the Texas Golf Association, Northern Texas PGA, and Southern Texas PGA. The goal of the Alliance was to allow junior golfers a clear path to the best tournaments in Texas. Each of the tier-two organizations (STPGA, NTPGA) conduct events that serve as qualifiers into the statewide tier-one events run by the Legends Junior Tour (LJT). This allows players to compete in local events in which they can earn spots to play in statewide tournaments.
What’s Next: Next up for the Legends Junior Tour, Quicksand Golf Course in San Angelo will host the 2026 Fall Challenge on September 26-27. For more information on the Fall Challenge, click here. For more information on the North Texas Classic, click here. To see all the scores from Cedar Crest Golf Course, click here.