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HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Both Jack Morris and Eliza Yelverton began Thursday’s final round of the 2025 Mississippi Junior Amateur presented by Edwin Watts Golf atop the leaderboard.

For Morris, he was tied at 6-under alongside Seth Tubb on the boys’ leaderboard. As for Yelverton, she commanded an eight-stroke lead as the only girl in the field under par. Thursday’s final round would prove to be unique to both players as they reached the pinnacle of junior golf in the state of Mississippi.

Eliza Yelverton (West Point) had one goal heading into the week at Hattiesburg Country Club: WIN. It may sound obvious that a player only comes to a tournament with an expectation to finish on top, but for Yelverton, it was more than that. Last year’s Mississippi junior am ended in heartbreak, losing to her good friend, Lucy Cook, on the third playoff hole on a putt that lipped out of the cup.

“Stuff like that happens,” Yelverton said. “I’m just glad to go [to the U.S. Junior] this year.”

The Lipscomb University commit left no doubts. She began her week with a 3-under, 69 to hold a 5-shot lead following round 1. Following that up with a 1-under, 71, Yelverton was in the driver’s seat on Thursday and controlling her own destiny with an 8-shot lead over the rest of the field.

Having full confidence in her game plan that was devised with her father and PGA Tour swing coach, Tim Yelverton.

“Dad came for the practice round and our goal was to hit all the fairways and from there, just let the birdies happen,” she told the MGA following her final round.

The game plan worked to perfection. Yelverton knocked home 11 birdies on the week which tied her for fourth among all competitors, boy or girl. Cruising her way around Hattiesburg Country Club on Thursday, she racked up 14 pars en route to a closing 1-over 73 to win by nine shots.

As Eliza trekked up the steep side hills around the 18th hole, her mom, Laura held her arms in the air awaiting to hug her daughter–a hug that had to wait a year.

“She was just hugging me, she was just like ‘I’m so proud!’”, Yelverton told the MGA. 

“Always hugging mom after a round is a good feeling… I wish Dad could’ve been here but I know he’s already given me like three phone calls,” she chuckled.

The Yelverton’s went home heavy-handed as Eliza’s younger brother, Bryant, won the Boys’ 14-15 age division.

Eliza & crew will head to Atlanta for the U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship held at Atlanta Athletic Club (Riverside Course) July 14-19.

Tupelo’s Jack Morris came into the week with a win already under his belt this season. Picking up a win in May, Morris was riding a bit of a heater as he drove south down US-45 and I-59 on his way from Tupelo to Hattiesburg.

“This [tournament] has been circled on the calendar for a while…the past three years I would say,” Morris told the MGA.

He knew it was a big week for him. He’s won tournaments before but had yet to win a major. This week though, Morris delivered.

Following an opening 1-under 71, Morris sat four shots back behind 18-hole leader, Seth Tubb. Knowing his best golf was ahead of him, Morris surged on moving day, charging to the top of the leaderboard matching Tubb with a tournament-low 5-under 67. 

Sharing the 36-hole lead with Tubb, the pair were out in front of the field by three-plus strokes and earned themselves spots in the final group.

“I was nervous,” Morris said. “I’m always like nervous a little bit on the first tee no matter what the tournament is. Today, it was a lot extra.”

Despite the nerves, Morris came out of the gates hot. With four birdies on the front nine, Morris rode a hot putter to an eight-shot lead before making the turn. Giving himself a cushion and some room for his game to breathe, Morris found himself on the 18th tee with a five-shot lead.

Morris safely reached the green on the 18th, but thanks to some of those infamous nerves, he found himself over 100 feet from the back-right hole location. Four putts later, Jack Morris finally got his major win.

Carding a final round, even-par 72 for a tournament total, 210 (-6), Morris adds his name to an extensive who’s who list of Mississippi golfers.

He will represent Mississippi at the 2025 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship hosted by Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas, Texas July 21-26.