There are champions. There are legends. And then there are the men who survived the chaos of the Invitational Shootout long enough to have their names permanently etched into tournament folklore.
In 2016, that honor belonged to Mike Howley and Ray Shinkle.
Now, somehow, unbelievably, alarmingly…it has been ten years.
A full decade since Howley and Shinkle captured the 2016 Invitational Shootout championship in a performance for the ages at Water’s Edge Golf Club in Worth.
The Run That Changed Everything
Back in 2016, the Invitational Shootout was already gaining its reputation as the Midwest’s premier two-person scramble. The field was loaded. Confidence was high. And yet, through the smoke, noise, and emotional devastation, Howley and Shinkle emerged victorious.
But the story of their triumph begins three years earlier during a catastrophic playoff defeat to Rob Garcia and Billy Les at the 2013 Invitational Shootout. Little did Howley and Shinkle realize their redemption would come three years later over BOTH Billy Les and the GOAT, George Les.
The Pressure of Shootout Greatness
Winning the Invitational Shootout has never been easy.
The event is not merely a golf tournament. It is an endurance test of focus, friendship, strategy, hydration, emotional resilience, and one’s ability to function while hearing somebody yell “LET’S GO!” from three fairways away.
By the back nine, every putt suddenly feels historic.
And in 2016, nobody handled the moment better than Howley and Shinkle.
A Championship That Aged Beautifully
Ten years later, the 2016 title has only grown in stature.
Part of that is because the Shootout itself has become bigger than ever. What started as a fun gathering of golfers has evolved into one of Chicagoland’s most beloved golf traditions — a tournament where stories live forever and every participant believes, deep down, that this could finally be their year.
But the other reason the 2016 championship still resonates is simple: Howley and Shinkle perfectly represented the spirit of the Shootout.
Competitive. Relentless. And fully prepared to fight for their dignity.
Climb That Mountain
Mike Howley and Ray Shinkle in 2013
The playoff loss in 2013 created more scar tissue for both Howley and Shinkle than they cared to realize. The opportunity of a lifetime turned into the nightmare that would never end.
“I couldn’t believe how bad both Mike and Ray played in sudden death in 2013. It was like they forgot how to play the game” said 2004 Shootout Champion Joe Hill. “It was sad to watch. Mike had never won The Shootout, so I understood why he felt apart under the weight of such enormous pressure. But at the time, Ray was tied with George Les for most Shootout titles, so I never expected him to crumble in the heat of the moment”.
“It was pretty clear Mike and Ray were shocked by their own buffoonery” said McMouw Cup Champion Mick McDonnell. “I told pretty much everyone I knew that these two guys were done. You can’t go throughout something so traumatic and ever recover your manhood. Yet somehow three years later these two guys vanquish The GOAT and his son. It’s truly shocking.”
Where Are They Now?
Ten years later, both men remain deeply connected to Shootout history.
Howley, of course, continues serving as one of the central figures behind the event itself — a man whose fingerprints are all over the tournament’s growth, traditions, and unique personality.
Shinkle, meanwhile, still carries the quiet confidence of a three-time champion. Ray is one of only four men to win the Shootout with multiple partners – George Les, Walter Lis and Shane Hennessey-York.
And honestly? He’s earned it.
The Legacy Lives On
Every year, new teams arrive believing they can make history.
Some do.
Most leave muttering about lip-outs and “if only that drive stayed in bounds.”
But only one team can forever claim the title of 2016 Invitational Shootout Champions.
Ten years later, the names still stand tall:
Mike Howley. Ray Shinkle.
Champions. Legends. Survivors.
And perhaps most importantly, living proof that greatness can happen when two golfers reclaim their manhood after a crushing defeat.
How these guys came back after such a horrific loss is mesmerizing. These guys should be studied by our greatest psychologists to understand how they could overcome this type of trauma.