Gold Tip’s Morgan, Gillingham Finish 1-2 at First Leg of IBO National Championship Triple Crown
OutdoorHub 05.23.12
Gold Tip Pro Shooters took the first leg of the IBO National Championship Triple Crown by storm, May 18-20, in Bedford, Indiana. Rising star, Levi Morgan won the event with a score of 422, with Tim Gillingham claiming second place, with a score of 419. Gary Studt and Chance Beaubouef picked up third and fourth spots with scores of 414 and 413, respectively. Dominating from start to finish, all four Gold Tip shooters maintained their respective first day positions through the completion of the final day of the event.
“The First Leg of the Triple Crown is always a tournament that I want to do well in,” said Levi Morgan. “It gives me a good start on the points race and when the competition is as tough as it is this year, I want as big of a lead as I can get!”
The recent event, hosted by White River Bowhunters, Inc., in Bedford, IN, presented a tough challenge for the entire field. The Pro Division of the IBO sanctioned 3-D event features a total of 30 unmarked targets shot on Saturday and 10 unmarked targets shot on Sunday. Contestants shoot each target twice per day, scored as 5 (non-vital body), 8, 10, and 11-point rings per target, thus a perfect possible score of 440. Target distances varied in range out to a maximum of approximately 50 yards. No range finding equipment is allowed at the IBO unmarked event, putting additional pressure on shooters to accurately judge distances.
“It was definitely one of the toughest courses we’ve faced all year,” said second place finisher and Gold Tip’s National Shooting Staff Manager, Tim Gillingham. “The hilly terrain made for some extreme elevations on certain targets. You just can’t afford to make mistakes in these situations and that’s why Levi continues to win, he doesn’t make mistakes.”
Morgan and Gillingham were both shooting Gold Tip’s Ultralight X-Cutter Pro, a “fat shaft” style arrow, sporting 7.8 grains per inch and a diameter of .380.” Studt and Beaubouef were using Gold Tip’s Ultralight Series 22 Pro’s, weighing in at 7.3 grains per inch and featuring a .337” diameter. In addition, three of the top four shooters were using Bee Stinger Premier Plus front and back stabilizer bars.
