DALLAS — Luke Colton of Frisco clinched victory at the 25th Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship, finishing with an 11-under 202 in the tournament.
Colton asserted his dominance early, leading after the first round with a 5-under 66. He shared the lead with Brooks Harper of Dallas after the second round, both finishing at 9-under 202.
“This course suits my game well,” said the junior. “There’s a lot of right-to-left shots, and I’ve been hitting the ball really well.”
In the final round, Colton faced adversity, slipping to third place by the 10th hole after bogeying No. 9 and No. 10. However, he rallied, birdieing No. 11, No. 16, and No. 17, setting up a tense finish at No. 18.
Colton’s drive found the fairway, positioning him for a crucial approach shot. His second shot landed just off the green, leaving him with a short chip. Colton executed the chip to perfection, leaving himself a simple two-foot putt to seal victory as the 25th champion of the Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship.
“It feels amazing to secure this win,” said Colton. “This tournament on this course is special, and finishing with birdies when it mattered most was incredibly satisfying.”
With this triumph, Colton earns exemptions into the 26th Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship, the Texas Junior Amateur, and the 115th Texas Amateur at Trinity Forest.
“Trinity Forest is an outstanding course, and I’m eager to compete there,” Colton remarked.
Byungho Lee of Plano finished second after a remarkable performance, breaking Jordan Spieth’s course competition record with a 10-under 61. Lee’s stellar round included six birdies on the front nine and narrowly missing a chip-in on No. 18 for a potential 60.
Tying for third were Asher Vargas of Spring and Trevor Gutschewski of Elkhom, Neb., both finishing at 7-under 206.
Adam Villanueva of Kenedy and Brooks Harper of Dallas rounded out the top five, both finishing at 6-under 207.
The 25th Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship once again lived up to its reputation as the most prestigious all-boys tournament in Texas. The continued support from Malcolm Holland, Gilbert Freeman, and the entire Veritex Bank team has ensured the tournament’s success year after year.
The unwavering support from the membership and staff at Lakewood Country Club has been instrumental in providing a challenging yet impeccable course for the best junior players in the region.
Up next on the Legends Junior Tour is the Flodder Financial Shootout at the Club of Falcon Point in Katy, TX.