2005 Ducks Unlimited Continental ReportJon Kruger wins the preliminary. Wendell Cherry dominates the main event!It was a spectacular weekend for the D.U. Continental. Hardly a cloud was seen as bright sunshine warmed the air each day to a comfortable 80 degrees. Shooters arrived from around the country to support Ducks Unlimited and to enjoy a “sporting clays” vacation in the Music City. Jason Menke of Briley/Mattarelli set the course. Jason sets targets at many of the top shoots in the nation. Competitors know that Jason is capable of setting targets to satisfy the demands of any competition. Of course, this is a Ducks Unlimited event, so targets were a bit soft. One could compare the targets to mallards setting down in green timber, as opposed to distant doves darting across a grain field. The event kicked off on Thursday with sub-gauge and five-stand competitions. It was a perfect day to play with the diminutive .410, as light winds were the order of the day. The course was a fun challenge, which left many sub-gauge competitors shaking their heads. The preliminary event was shot on Friday. NSCA Hall-of-Fame inductee Jon Kruger claimed victory with a super score of 96. Brian Hopper and Greg Jackson followed closely with tie scores of 93 to win M1 and M2 honors. Meanwhile, Mike Hafley was in the hunt with a great score of 92 to take M3. “Secret stations” were used to determine winners in the case of tie scores. Arguably, in a shoot of this size, shoot-offs are the more appropriate way to determine winners since outcomes would be determined by performance, rather than chance. Shoot-offs also provide excitement and entertainment for spectators. Maybe DU will consider shoot-offs for next year’s event. The main event belonged to Wendell Cherry. Wendell put on a “shooting clinic” as he shot a 95 on Saturday and a 98 on Sunday for a combined score of 193X 200, to easily outpace all competitors. The 1st Team All-American is off to a great start this season, having also won the 2005 Gamaliel Cup, which was recently hosted by TCTC. Congratulations, Wendell! M2 honors went to Mark Gamel with a score of 184, while Dr. James Plaxco claimed M3 with a score of 183. Both earned great scores while demonstrating demeanor and sportsmanship of the highest standards. In behalf of the Tennessee Clay Target Complex, our congratulations extend to all of the winners, as well as our sincere appreciation to all participants! It takes a lot of work to host a shoot of this size. TCTC Manager, Larry Summarell and the entire staff are commended for doing another outstanding job. Way to go, Larry! The 2005 Ducks Unlimited Continental was a great success. The event provided shooters not only a great time, but also an opportunity help waterfowl conservation through the laudable efforts of Ducks Unlimited. Thank you, Ducks Unlimited! In 2006, we can all expect a great waterfowl season and an even greater Ducks Unlimited Continental in Nashville, Tennessee! Prelim Results | Main Event Results and Punches | Photo Gallery (new window) |
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