Avara Claims Prize Possessions Eastern Championship

NTPGA • July 17, 2018

Prosper, TX – Clint Avara, PGA director of instruction at The Courses at Watters Creek, carded a 6-under 66 in today’s final round of the Prize Possessions Eastern Championship to claim his first individual major championship. In dramatic fashion, Avara clinched the title after draining a 12-foot putt on the first hole of a sudden death playoff against Round One leader Brandon Bingaman, assistant professional at Bent Tree Country Club.

“To make that putt on 18 was awesome. It’s a great feeling. I didn’t think I’d be here. I had a few close calls several years ago, and just to come back and win one is just amazing, especially to shoot a score like that in the last day. I’m shocked honestly,” said Avara. “It’s really neat to win. It’s tough to do in our Section because of all the great players. To come out on top in a playoff is even better. It feels really good. I’ve been playing really good, and just kind of everything clicked the last couple of days.”

The Championship included a Senior Division that was comprised of 31 of the 123 participants aged 50 or older who competed for a separate $9,465 purse and played at a modified yardage. Stuart Hendley, PGA director of instruction at Dallas Athletic Club, and Robert McMillan, PGA director of instruction at McMillan Golf Academy, both had two-day totals of 2-under par to finish the Championship at 142 and tie for the 2018 Prize Possessions Eastern Championship Senior Division champion title. The each took home a check for $1,150.

This 36-hole NTPGA major championship was the second of four individual stroke play events that comprise the Yamaha Golf-Car Company & Srixon /Cleveland Golf / XXIO Player of the Year Points Challenge presented by Adventures In Golf. It also serves as a qualifier for the 2018 Texas Joe Black Cup and Levy Cup Matches teams.

The Prize Possession Eastern Championship featured a field of 123 Northern Texas PGA Members and Associates competing at Gentle Creek Country Club in Prosper.

The Open Division field competed for a share of the $26,335 purse with Avara taking home $3,150 for first place. The overall Championship purse was $35,800.

The Prize Possessions Eastern Championship was presented by 18Birdies, AT&T Byron Nelson, E-Z-GO, InchStix, PGA TOUR and Pukka.

Gentle Creek Country Club
Par: 36-36—72
Yardage: 7,276

Final results

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Irving, Texas (August 25) – The Nelson Golf and Sports Club hosted two Northern Texas PGA Major Championships this week, the Club Car | XXIO Northern Texas Senior PGA Professional Championship and the Lajitas Golf Resort Women’s Section Championship. Clayton Friend claimed the Senior title, and Kim Paez claimed the Women’s title. Kim Paez, PGA Member at Ping Inc., claimed the Lajitas Golf Resort Women’s Section Championship title, carding rounds of 70-72–142. Paez finished the Championship at 2-over-par, winning by four strokes. She began the final round one stroke back of Katie Flinn, director of instruction at Topgolf - Fort Worth, and her 2-over-par final round was enough to come from behind and secure the win. This is Paez’s first victory with the Northern Texas PGA since joining the section in 2025. “I stuck to my game plan this week, which was fairways and greens,” Paez said. “I think I missed only one or two fairways yesterday. I played pretty conservatively, but it paid off in the end.” Reflecting on her final round performance, Paez said, "It was a little bit windier today. It made me calculate a lot more on the tee shots.” It was an up-and-down round for Paez, but she hit her approach on hole 18 to two feet and tapped in for birdie. “The last three holes are pretty gettable, so I just had to remind myself that no matter how the round was going, I was going to have opportunities to close it out at the end.” Next week, September 3-5, Paez joins four other PGA female PGA Teaching, Coaching and Club Professionals from across the country to represent the United States in the fourth Women’s PGA Cup. They will take on Australia, Canada, Great Britain & Ireland, South Africa and Sweden in a 54-hole stroke play format at Carden Park Golf Resort in Chester, Cheshire, United Kingdom. “It is the biggest honor. When I first got my PGA Membership, and I found out about the PGA Cup, it became one of my biggest goals,” said Paez about making the team. “I was constantly checking the rankings, and coming into the KPMG [Women’s PGA Championship] and the LPGA Professionals Championship, I knew I had to lock in and give myself the best chance.” “I am so excited and so proud to represent the Northern Texas PGA as well, so hopefully I make everyone proud,” added Paez. This 36-hole Northern Texas PGA major championship is the fourth of five individual stroke play events that comprise the Woman Player of the Year points standings. The 22-player field competed for a purse of $7,500, and Kim Paez took home $1,050. The Lajitas Golf Resort Women’s Section Championship was presented by A.PUTNAM and XXIO. The Nelson Golf and Sports Club Par: 35-35–70 Women’s Championship Yardage: 5,878 yards