Vegas Baby!

Final 8 Set to Make a Run at Title of 3GN Champion and $50,000

Eight of the game's best 3-gunners took on the Shoot-Off Steel and earned a slot in the Las Vegas Finale.

By Chad Adams

GLENGARY, WV – Eight competitors punched their tickets to Las Vegas for the 3-Gun Nation Championship Shoot-Off Finale by winning their elimination round match-up during the 3GN Championship Shoot-Off here Nov. 13. The winner of the 3GN Shoot-Off Finale will be awarded the title of 3GN Champion and receive an unprecedented payday—$50,000 from Leupold Tactical Optics and NBC Sports.

Tommy Thacker, Phil Strader, Jeff Cramblit, Rustin Bernskoetter, Mark Hanish, Tyler Payne, Taran Butler and Mike Voigt all qualified for the 3GN Shoot-Off Finale via wins during the elimination round.

In the first match-up, FN’s Tommy Thacker squared off against defending 3GN Champion Daniel Horner, from the U.S. AMU. Horner jumped out to a good lead during the rifle position and was first to the stop plate, beating Thacker by a couple of plates.

Team FN's Tommy Thacker takes on rifle steel during his win over defending 3GN Champion Daniel Horner.

However, upon review of 3GN video, Horner failed to knock down one of the MGM ReCon targets, and was incorrectly declared the winner. Upon seeing the footage, Horner conceded that he lost the bout, therefore Thacker moves on to Las Vegas.

Phil Strader, who qualified in one of the last 14 slots, got an opening-round win to advance to Las Vegas.

In the second match-up, Phil Strader, who needed a third score at the preceding FNH USA 3-Gun Championship just to qualify for the 3GN Championship Match, defeated James Casanova, who put up an impressive fourth place finish in the four-stage match. Strader will face Thacker in Las Vegas.

Jeff Cramblit advanced to the Las Vegas Finale via an opening-round win over Stag Arms' Kalani Laker.

Jeff Cramblit knocked off Stag Arms’ Kalani Laker in the next bracket, setting up a Las Vegas showdown with Rustin Bernskoetter, who came from behind on the pistol to knock out Adam Popplewell.

Non-sponsored Rustin Bernskoetter has looked impressive in his two 3GN Shoot-Off appearances so far.

In the lower brackets, FN’s Mark Hanish laid down arguably the most impressive one run of the match, a blistering pace that knocked off Kelly Neal, who had a good run in his own right.

Team FN's Mark Hanish laid down a smoking run in his opening-round win over Leupold's Kelly Neal.

Hanish will square off in Las Vegas against the U.S. AMU’s Tyler Payne, who just edged breakout 3-gunner Greg Jordan, who knocked down his stop plate with one pistol plate still standing—a wild finish to what was a very exciting run.

AMU's Tyler Payne (left) survived a thrilling opening-round bout with Greg Jordan, the number three seed.

In a match-up of titans, Taran Butler laid down an extremely impressive run on his way to knocking out Jerry Miculek. Butler and Miculek were neck-and-neck through the shotgun and rifle positions before Butler took off with the pistol to seal the win.

Taran Butler knocked off Jerry Miculek in the first round, setting up another great pairing with Mike Voigt.

In the final match-up, arguably the most exciting bout of the day, Mike Voigt narrowly defeated Open division rival Clint Upchurch to advance to Las Vegas. In an impressive display, Voigt worked through a shotgun malfunction to run down Upchurch with the pistol. With both stop plates falling nearly simultaneously, it was Voigt’s that edged past Upchurch’s plate first for the win. Only one day earlier, Upchurch outlasted Voigt to narrowly win the 3GN Open Division title, picking up a $5,000 payday from Hornady. Fittingly, as the two have battled back and forth all season long, Voigt turned the tables the next day to advance to Vegas.

In the most competitive match-up of the first round, Mike Voigt took out Open division rival Clint Upchurch.

The road to the 3GN Championship began last September, as competitors have compiled series points at major 3-gun matches across the country. The top 64 competitors were invited to compete in the 3GN Championship Match, a one-day Tactical Optics event that featured four stages of fire—each with all three guns.

In what most are calling the deepest 3-gun field ever assembled, the top 16 advanced into the Shoot-Off elimination round. Now the Las Vegas eight move on to compete for what will be the highest cash payout in the history of the sport, with $50,000 going the 3-Gun Nation Champion, courtesy of Leupold Tactical Optics and NBC Sports.

3-Gun Championship Shoot-Off Finale Match-Ups

• Thacker vs. Strader winner faces winner of Cramblit vs. Bernskoetter
• Hanish vs. Payne winner faces winner of Butler vs. Voigt

 3-Gun Nation Championship Match Results

Posted on 11/21/2011