The Woodlands, Texas - Miles Russell of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, shot a final-round 1-under-par 71 for a tournament total of 11-under-par 205 and his third Invitational win.
The AJGA Simplify Boys Championship at Carlton Woods is one of the longest-running events on the AJGA schedule. Originally played in 1987, the tournament settled at The Club at Carlton Woods in 2009. The event has a storied past with champions such as Jim Furyk, Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth.
Russell began the final round with a four-shot lead which he maintained throughout the day. He made six pars to start the day before birdieing Nos. 7 and 8 en route to a front nine 2-under-par 34.
"I played really solid for all three rounds. The second round especially even though the weather wasn't as good and today I played fine outside of No. 18 but otherwise it was a good day. It was a great way to start off 2025."
Russell had an interesting back nine with three birdies two bogeys and a double bogey on No. 18. In the end, the lead he built throughout the tournament was enough as he claimed the victory by three strokes over Michael Riebe of Encinitas, California, and Giuseppe Puebla of Royal Palm Beach, Florida.
"This is definitely one of the better events. The course and the setup and how everyone gets behind the event it is really awesome."
Coming into the event at No. 2 in the Rolex AJGA Rankings, the 2027 grad is coming off a win at the Rolex Tournament of Champions in November of 2024. The 2023 Rolex Junior Player of the Year played in this event in 2024 and finished T14.
Rounding out the top 10 are:
- T2 | Giuseppe Puebla of Royal Palm Beach, Florida (-8)
- T2 | Michael Riebe of Encinitas, California (-8)
- T4 | Will Hartman of Marvin, North Carolina (-4)
- T4 | Benjamin Baker of Broadlands, Virginia (-4)
- T4 | William Lisle of (Hong Kong) Bradenton, Florida (-4)
- T4 | John Daniel Culbreth of Thomasville, Georgia (-4)
- T4 | Dawson Lew of Toronto, Canada (-4)
- T9 | Preston Hage of Raleigh, North Carolina (-3)
- T9 | Brooks Simmons of Dallas, Texas (-3)
- T9 | Carson Bertagnole of Pinehurst, North Carolina (-3)
- T9 | Luke Colton of Frisco, Texas (-3)
- T9 | Jessy Huebner of Port St Lucie, Florida (-3)