Hilburn Leads the Prize Possessions | E-Z-GO Eastern Championship

Rachel Buckle • June 10, 2025

TYLER, Texas (June 9, 2025) – Colton Hilburn, Associate at Abilene Country Club, leads the Prize Possessions | E-Z-GO Eastern Championship after round one. He carded a 35-31– 66, 5-under-par round and leads by one stroke.


Regarding Willow Brook Country Club, Hilburn said, “It’s a great test. You’ve got to earn your way around here.”


Hilburn’s back-nine performance was the best of the day, tallying four birdies and no bogeys. “I hit both par fives in two, so those were two easy two-putt birdies, and then I snaked in an 8-footer and a 15-footer for par, and then kind of rode that momentum and hit some good approach shots coming in,” Hilburn said.

Chasing Hilburn, and the $4,000 champion’s check, is reigning Section Champion Gabe Reynolds, PGA director of instruction at Topgolf - Dallas. Reynolds shot 4-under-par, 34-33-67.


Commenting on his previous success, Reynolds said, “It never hurts to have success, but when it’s time to hit a shot, you better be focused on that shot, not the one you hit a year ago. I just love playing in these golf tournaments with this crew. This Section does such a good job of setting up the golf courses and dealing with all that mother nature throws at them.”

The Championship also includes a Senior Division that is made up of 34 professionals ages 50 and over, playing for a separate title and purse. Rob Shields, PGA Member at the Winsford Group, and Rick Woodson, PGA instructor at Sherrill Park Golf Course, are currently tied for first in the Senior Division.


Shields carded a 37-35–72, and Woodson carded 34-38–72. Both professionals are at 1-over-par. Shields and Woodson are chased by five players who are only one stroke behind at 2-over-par. 


Shields made 12-straight pars during his round after making two bogeys in his first three holes. He finished the round with a birdie on hole 16, but he gave it back with a bogey on hole 18.


As for Woodson, he carded a clean front-nine with birdies on holes 4 and 9. However, the back-nine served Woodson three bogeys taking his clean scorecard for the day. 


The Senior Division Champion will earn $1,600.


The final round will begin at 7:45 a.m. tomorrow and the Senior Division will play in the morning wave. The Open Division leaders will tee off at 2:23 p.m.


This 36-hole Northern Texas PGA major championship is the first of four individual stroke play events that comprise the Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon and Nike Player of the Year Points Challenge presented by Adventures In Golf. The field is competing for an overall purse of $49,000.


The Prize Possessions | E-Z-GO Eastern Championship is presented by Branded Bills, Glow Vibe Golf, GT Golf Supply Co., Infraway, Levelwear, Nexbelt, PGA TOUR, THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson and Vortex® Golf.


Willow Brook Country Club

Par: 36-35–71

Open Division Yardage: 6,762 yards

Senior Division Yardage: 6,377 yards


View the current results
HERE

By Erik Anderson February 17, 2026
The brand will sponsor competitive junior events, serve as the official apparel provider to staff, and provide exclusive merchandise, prizes, and more at events as part of their effort to encourage and develop the next generation of golfers
By Molly Rawlins December 17, 2025
Paez, McCorkle, Shields also honored with Playing Awards
By Margaret Miller December 9, 2025
LAJITAS, Texas (December 9) – Brandon Bingaman, PGA assistant professional at Gleneagles Country Club, won the Duel in the Desert at Lajitas Golf Resort to claim the 2025 Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon and Nike Match Play Championship Open Division title. Rob Shields, PGA member at The Winsford Group, claimed the Senior Division title. The No. 2-seeded Bingaman battled No. 12 Jon Antunes, PGA director of instruction at Heart of Texas Golf Academy, in a 36-hole final match for the title and $10,000. Both players began their run to the championship match back in October at White Bluff Resort, where they battled their way through the 32-player Match Play Championship bracket. “It’s incredible out here,” said Bingaman. “Jon is awesome; we couldn’t have had more fun. It’s hard, because on one hand you want to win and it's stressful, but on the other hand we were just two guys enjoying playing golf.” After playing 18 holes on Monday, their match stood at 2UP in favor of Bingaman. He continued his charge with birdies on holes 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8, extending his lead to 7UP. Antunes quickly answered back with a long putt on the 9th hole to cut into Bingaman's lead. But, Bingaman drained a birdie putt on hole 13 to end the match. He claimed his first Match Play title 7&5. Bingaman made a putter switch in between the 36-hole match. “I brought two putters with me. I’ve been flipping back and forth recently between a L.A.B Putter and a Scottie Cameron, which did me well last week. Going into this weekend, I had a good feeling [about the latter], and good feelings turned into good playing.” This is the first year that Bingaman has made it to the final match. Antunes has won the title twice, previously in 2021 and 2022. “This was my first time qualifying for [Duel in the Desert], and I was super excited because I’ve heard nothing but great things about Lajitas Golf Resort,” said Bingaman. In the Senior Division, Rob Shields, PGA Member of the Winsford Group, started the day with a 1UP lead over Billy Harris. Harris birdied the 2nd hole to tie the match, and on the next hole, he went 1UP. Shields and Harris battled back and forth on holes 4, 5, 6 and 7 before Shields won holes 8, 9 and 10. His 3UP lead was enough to take the victory on hole 16, 3&2. “I think my putting was good. I hit the fairways today, which is good because if not, you’re playing in the trees, or desert; but, it was fun. I had a good time,” said Shields. He continued by praising his opponent and friend, Billy Harris, “I’ve known Billy for a long time. He’s a good guy.” Shields earned $5,000 for his victory today and his first match play title. This year was the fourth year that the Open Division championship match was conducted in Lajitas and the second year that the Senior Division joined them. “This place is a hidden gem. It’s a great golf course, lots and lots of fun. It was a joy being out here. The elevation changes are awesome,” said Shields about Lajitas Golf Resort. The Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon and Nike Match Play Championship was presented by Adventures In Golf, Lajitas Golf Resort, PGA TOUR, THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson, TPx Communications and XXIO.
Cameron Doan GY
By Molly Rawlins November 21, 2025
2025 NTPGA Award Winners