Around the Green

J. Holland Humphries Wins Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship

DALLAS – J. Holland Humphries of Austin wins the Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship after a final round of 1-under-par 70. The 2021 Southern Methodist University commit made historic Lakewood Country Club look easy carding red numbers in all three rounds. This is Humphries’ first Legends Junior Tour win which adds to his already decorated junior golf career.

“It means a lot, especially considering how many great players were in the field this year and in the past,” Humphries said.

On Thursday, he stood on the first tee box before the final round with a three-shot lead. The combination of an impressive golf game and a confident mindset made for a perfect duo. His carefree mentality never wavered from start to finish.

Coming into the par-5 ninth, Humphries was 1-under and held a four-shot lead. However, he lost his tee shot left out of bounds, followed by struggles in a greenside bunker leading to a triple bogey. Humphries closed his front nine with a 2-over 38.

“Instead of worrying about where I was the whole time I kind of believed I was going to win,” Humphries said. “It didn’t really phase me that I made a triple because I still felt like I was in the tournament the whole time.”

Humphries was unphased by his triple bogey and continued his steady play on the back nine. The 17-year-old played his final nine holes 3-under, making six pars and three birdies. His game plan was to play one shot at a time. He posted 12-under par for the tournament and claimed the title by four shots.

Nathan Petronzio of Bee Cave carded five birdies and an eagle on Thursday. The 2020 Southern Methodist University commit’s final round of 5-under 66 earned him a solo second finish at 8-under par. Petronzio adds this runner-up finish to a third finish in the 2017 Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship.

Austin’s Jackson Davenport, a 2020 West Virginia University commit, Cole Sherwood, a 2020 Vanderbilt commit, and 14-year-old Daniel Zou of The Woodlands finished tied third at 6-under-par 207.

Keaton Vo of Austin finished sixth at 5-under-par 208. Andrew Spaulding of Spring finished seventh at 4-under-par 209. Gaven Lane of Argyle finished eighth at 3-under-par 210. Hanseung Chang of Cedar Park finished ninth at 2-under-par 211. Jaivir Pande of Houston, Matthew Watkins of Heath, Jase Summy of Keller and Evan Vo of Austin rounded out the top ten at 1-under-par 212.

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 21^st Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship a memorable and successful event. For more information about this championship click here.