Around the Green

Gaven Lane Wins 20th Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship

DALLAS – Gaven Lane of Argyle wins the 20^th Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship after a final round 71. The 2023 Oklahoma State University commit adds another Legends Junior Tour major to his already decorated junior golf career.
 
“This one is right at the top,” Lane said.
 
He stood on the first tee box Thursday at Lakewood Country Club before the final round with a share of the lead. When he left the first green, he trailed by one. His playing competitor and the 2017 champion, Luke Dossey, drained a 12-foot putt for birdie. Dossey confidently walked to the second tee, but so did Lane.
 
The 14-year-old standout didn’t waiver. He followed with his own clutch birdie on the par-4 second to take a one-shot lead of his own after a Dossey three-putt bogey.
 
Lane closed his front nine with a key birdie on the par-5 ninth to go out in 1-under 35. The momentum shifted as he held a two-shot advantage with nine holes to play.
 
His steady play continued on the back side. Despite a bogey on the par-4 tenth, Lane would play his final eight holes 1-under. He made seven pars and one birdie. His game plan was to eliminate mistakes and the rising high school freshman showed veteran qualities down the stretch. He posted 5-under par for the tournament to win by two shots.
 
“Today, you know, I just stayed calm,” Lane said. “I kept hitting consistent shots and made some pars there at the end to get the win.”
 
Dossey, who will play for Baylor University in the fall, turned in 1-over 37. He trailed Lane by two strokes and started the back nine aggressive. Dossey made birdie on the par-4 tenth to regain a share of the lead; however, a wayward tee shot on the par-4 15^th led to costly double bogey. The 2017 champion faced a three-shot deficit with three holes to play.
 
He made a late birdie on the par-5 17^th, but Lane’s consistent play was too solid to catch. Dossey concludes his incredible junior golf career with a solo second finish after a final round 1-over-par 72.
 
Jacob Borrow of Lake Jackson was the third member of the final group. He made two bogeys and a double in his opening four holes and went out in 3-over 39. The rising high school senior carded a final round 76 and finished in a tie for fourth.
 
Randall Fojtasek of Dallas carded a final round 1-under 70 to clinch solo third overall. Matthew Griggs of Prosper, Pottsboro’s Austyn Reily, Cole Sherwood of Austin, Frisco’s Tommy Morrison, Hunter Bolt of Montgomery and Julio Arronte from Mexico round out this year’s top ten.
 
Peggy Nelson congratulated the top-10 and presented the Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship trophy to Lane. She expressed her gratitude for Lakewood Country Club, the Legends Junior Tour and the entire 2019 field.
 
The Legends Junior Tour extends its warmest and most sincere appreciation to Veritex Bank, the staff and members of Lakewood Country Club as well as our volunteers for their integral part in making the 20^th Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship a memorable and successful event. For more information about this championship click here.