Team of Harris / Studebaker Captures The Ratliff Group | O’Brien Architects Pro-Pro Championship
Molly Rawlins • March 23, 2021
Longview, TX –
The team of Keith Harris, PGA general manager at Cross Timbers Golf Course & David Studebaker, assistant professional at Cross Timbers Golf Course, fired a two-round total of 10-under par (66-66–132) to capture this year’s Open Division title at The Ratliff Group | O’Brien Architects Pro-Pro Championship. Harris and Studebaker started the final round tied for the lead before five birdies helped them to a one-stroke victory over the team of John Sikes, PGA director of golf at Hollytree Country Club & Stetson McMillan, teaching professional at John Sikes Golf Academy, as well as the team of Robert McMillan, PGA director of instruction at McMillan Golf Academy & Austin Connelly, PGA TOUR member. Harris and Studebaker shared the first-place Open Division prize of $4,125.
The Senior Division finished with proverbial fireworks as a 20-yard pitch-in birdie on the 36th hole secured a one-shot victory for the team of Jim Henderson, PGA director of golf at Stevens Park Golf Course and Joel Edwards, PGA Life Member. Henderson holed the pitch shot. Henderson / Edwards finished 8-under par (66-68–134) to eclipse Bruce Smith, PGA director of instruction at Black Belt Golf Academy & Brian Mahon, PGA head professional at Rockwall Golf & Athletic Club. This is Henderson and Edward’s second title together, winning the event in 2018 at Southern Trace Country Club. They shared the first-place Senior Division’s prize of $1,600.
The four-ball, 36-hole stroke play Northern Texas PGA major championship featured a field of 53 two-person teams composed of PGA Professionals and Associates competing at two courses over two days in both an Open and Senior division. Round one was contested at Squire Creek Country Club, a par 72, 7,002-yard facility located in Choudrant, Louisiana. Round two took place at Pinecrest Country Club, a par 70, 6,513-yard facility in Longview, Texas.
The Ratliff Group | O’Brien Architects Pro-Pro Championship is presented by Adventures In Golf, AT&T Byron Nelson, Callaway Golf, Columbia Golf, E-Z-GO, Golf ScoreCards Inc., Lorente Golf and Perry Weather.
Woodson and Schaefer (a) Capture Senior Division
Little Secures Senior Division
Six qualify for Senior PGA Professional Championship
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