Over the weekend of June 14th, I traveled to the
Great northern state of Wisconsin to shoot in the third annual Miller
Lite Open, held each year at the beautiful Wern Valley
Hunting Preserve and Shooting Center.
Wern Valley is located in Waukesha, and is owned and
operated by Steve and Patty Williams. The Clubhouse sits atop a hill that overlooks one of the most
picturesque valleys you will ever see.
As usual the famed Steve Knolls had set the target
for the main event and sub gauge events.
Steve was ready this weekend with his signature technical
targets mixed with specialty targets.
Friday started with the sub gauge events and a 50-bird
preliminary event. The
weather was beautiful and the course in awesome shape.
So the weekend would begin.
Dusty Loberg of Minnesota would set the bar in the
50-bird preliminary and would continue to set the tone
throughout the weekend. I
was good enough to win Friday’s Make-A-Break competition.
I, along with others, would shoot this competition
throughout the weekend. This
is one game everyone plays and most seem to play well.
Saturday started with a clear blue sky and lots of
eager shooters. The
official referees would greet all with smiles and well wishes.
So the day began with the first rotation starting at
9:00. The targets
would prove too tough for the morning's first rotation.
Tom Mack of Michigan would post the best score
with an 88x100 to get things rolling.
I would follow close behind with an 82x100.
Most of the scores in the morning rotation would be in
the seventies, and there would only six of us in the eighties.
After lunch the second rotation was set to go out at
1:00pm. The weather
would continue to be pleasant with sunshine for the last
rotation of the day. The
targets would seem to favor Dusty Loberg on this spring
afternoon. Dusty would finish the first day with a score of 92x100.
What a start to third annual Miller Lite Open.
Saturday night would bring the TOP GUN SHOOTOUT.
I would again qualify along with another seven to shoot
in the Make-A-Break finals.
However, this night would not have me following up Friday
night’s win. Saturday
would have Ben Warner atop the leader board when all the
smoke had cleared. Ben would start the shoot out against me and
win by 6 points. On to the next shooter he would go. Finally ending up against Tom “Mack Daddy” Mack of
Michigan. Tom would
win the first round very decisively, however Ben would gather
himself and shoot the next two rounds very aggressively.
Ben would be the Top Gun for Saturday, no denying him.
Having just finished the Top Gun shoot out, dinner
would not be far behind. Steve
and his crew would treat us like kings on Saturday night.
The menu would be baby back ribs and bbq chicken, with
baked beans, corn and cheesecake for dessert.
Saturday night’s entertainment would a local man with a
fully operational Gatling Gun.
AWESOME. What a thrill to see a part of history come to life.
Sunday morning would bring all of us back to chase
Dusty, and Dusty back to go to work.
The young man would be brilliant throughout the weekend.
He would post a 92x100 on Sunday to capture the Miller
Lite Open title. Tom
Mack would continue to chase Dusty, however it would not be
enough. Not much
drama this weekend, only good shooting at great targets.
If you have never ventured to Milwaukee to shoot in
this tournament I would encourage you do so.
This has been my second trip and I believe it to be one
of the best and smoothest tournaments out there to visit.
Steve Williams and Steve Knolls always hire some the best
in the business to help them on this weekend.
They always hire Roberta and Ed Prechel of Top
Gun Shooting Sports out of Waseca, MN (contact them at
507-835-8245). Roberta
and Ed always set great 5-stand targets as well as hard to hit
Make-A-Break targets.
Congratulations to Dusty Loberg, Open Champion
and to Paula Benbow, Ladies Champion.
Great shooting!!!
Until next time, Great shooting and remember to take
the kids out for some shooting fun.
George Briscoe II
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