Temperature checks for players, staff and volunteers upon arrival at the golf course. No caddies allowed. Digital scorecards instead of paper. Social distancing reminders posted throughout the property. No bunker rakes.
These were just a few of the precautions put in place by the TGA in early June at Lakewood Country Club in Dallas when it conducted its first event since the COVID-19 pandemic at the Legends Junior Tour’s Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship.
Once Texas Governor Greg Abbott started reopening Texas with Phase 1 in May, the TGA began looking at the June 2-4 dates of the Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior with cautious optimism. As the premier boys’ event on the LJT schedule fell on the calendar relative to the COVID-19 outbreak, the ensuing quarantine and then the relaxing of restrictions, the Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior looked to be the TGA’s first opportunity to once again host elite-level amateur championships.
“We were really cognizant of what we had to think about and do,” said Kellen Kubasak, TGA Director of Competitions. “We spent a lot of time with a working group of our Championship Committee to develop significant guidelines that these players and spectators had to follow.”
With Governor Abbott’s executive orders on public health and COVID-19 in place, the TGA was confident and committed to hosting a safe tournament for players, spectators, volunteers and staff. In addition to those listed above, some of the other new guidelines to ensure the health and safety of everyone involved included:
With these modifications in place, the 21st playing of the Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior went off without a hitch. Across the country, most competitive tournaments were canceled or postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic. LJT Tournament Director Kevin Porter said he was thrilled to give a little piece of normalcy to the best junior golfers in Texas and added that this year’s event had the strongest field he’d seen in the past five years.
Porter called the tournament “a breath of fresh air,” which it was – both literally and figuratively.
“Spreading out the tee times allowed us to space players and spectators throughout the day around the course,” Porter said. “Fortunately, golf is played in an expansive space and allows for minimal contact between players and staff.”
Gilbert Freeman, the longtime Director of Golf at Lakewood CC, said he was skeptical in the weeks leading up to this year’s event. At the time he went to his club’s leadership to discuss the possibility of hosting the tournament without postponement, Freeman said the club still wasn’t allowing guests on the property due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“I have to tell you, I was so proud of our leadership,” said Freeman, who was instrumental in creating the prestigious junior championship 21 years ago. “When I threw it out there and asked if we could hold the tournament, there was no hesitation. There were a lot of hurdles to clear, of course, and making the decision to move forward when we still couldn’t allow guests was a big one.”
Looking back at how the championship week progressed, Freeman said he thought everything went better than he expected in a lot of ways. During the planning meetings with the TGA and LJT staff, as well as with the club’s leaders, Freeman heard a lot of “nos.” There would be no scorecards. No clubhouse access for players and parents. No caddies. No this and no that.
“I left that meeting depressed, to be honest with you,” Freeman said. “But as the event unfolded, it exceeded my expectations. The players seemed so enthusiastic. I received so many nice comments from parents and players. They were all just happy to be back playing competitive golf. That outweighed all the extraneous things we had to do without.”
As for the golf itself, it was extraordinary. J. Holland Humphries of Austin shot 12-under par to win by four shots. The 2021 Southern Methodist University commit scorched Lakewood CC with a sizzling 64 in the second round. It was one of three 64s posted during the week. Freeman said those were the three lowest tournament rounds at Lakewood CC since Jordan Spieth set the competitive course record in 2009 with 62.
Soft spoken, Humphries said he was extremely happy with his play and composure.“It means a lot,” he said. “Especially considering how many great players were in the field this year and in the past.”
At one time or another, Humphries and the entire field expressed their appreciation for being able to get back to competitive golf after a long, stressful layoff.
Randall Fojtasek, an incoming freshman at the University of Texas, said it was really special that the LJT went forward with the championship and that everyone had been looking forward to competitive tournaments.
“I am really happy to be back,” Fojtasek said. “(The Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship) holds a special place in my heart because I just love the course, and the event is so well run.”
The TGA and LJT extend their most sincere appreciation to Veritex Bank, the staff and members of Lakewood CC, as well as our volunteers for their integral part in making the 21st Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship a memorable and successful event. For more information about this championship, click here.
