The San Jose Sharks forward had 18 points in the third round on Sunday to finish with 66 points, three points behind former MLB pitcher Mark Mulder, the defending three-time champion, and five points behind the winner, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo.
Scoring at the tournament held at Edgewood Golf Club in Stateline, Nevada, was six points for an eagle, three for a birdie, one for par, zero for bogey and minus-2 for double bogey.
"It was awesome," Pavelski said. "The course was great. The crowd was great. The group was a lot of fun today. You kind of knew where you stand going in and birdies were going in at times. The standings were switching here and there. You knew it was just a putt or two away and for me today, it was probably. I think I only made a couple of birdies and left some out there."
Pavelski, who was on his high school golf team, bogeyed four times, birdied twice, and parred 12 times. He could have tied Romo for the lead and forced a playoff on the final hole.
"I didn't feel like I putted bad either, just nothing went in for me," the Sharks captain said. "I couldn't ask for more on 18 to have a shot at making eagle and forcing a playoff there. But it was fun, I had a blast."