In every great tournament, there is eventually one competitor who rises above the rest. One player who stops merely winning and starts defining the standard for everyone else. At the Invitational Shootout, that player is unquestionably George Les.
For years, the Invitational Shootout has built its reputation as one of the most competitive two-person scramble tournaments in the Midwest — a tournament where pressure, nerves, clutch putting, and chemistry matter just as much as talent. Champions come and go. Great teams emerge for a season or two. But sustained dominance in the Shootout is extraordinarily rare.
That is what makes George Les different.
With six Invitational Shootout championships, Les has separated himself from the field in historic fashion, doubling the total of every other three-time champion in tournament history.
That achievement alone tells the story.
The next tier of legends — Paul Manolitsis, Shane Hennessy-York, and Ray Shinkle — each own three championships. That is an incredible accomplishment in an event that has produced more than three decades of elite competition. Yet George Les stands alone with six titles, creating a gap between himself and the rest of the field that resembles the dominance of a dynasty rather than the success of a single player.
It is why many around the tournament now refer to him simply as:
“King George.”
Les first etched his name into Shootout history in 2007 when he teamed with Dallio to capture the championship at Water’s Edge Golf Club. Four years later, he returned to the winner’s circle in 2011, proving the first title was no fluke. Then came the run that elevated him from champion to legend.
In 2014, Les and Paul Manolitsis claimed another title. In 2018, the pair won again in dramatic fashion when Les buried a clutch birdie putt on the final hole to avoid a playoff and secure the championship. Tournament coverage afterward described him as “the greatest player in tournament history.”
At that point, Les had already become the first four-time champion in Shootout history.
Most players would be satisfied with that legacy.
George Les kept going.
In 2023, he captured championship number five alongside Manolitsis at George W. Dunne National Golf Course, officially becoming the tournament’s only five-time champion at the time.
And then came 2025.
The 30th edition of the Invitational Shootout already carried added significance because of the tournament’s milestone anniversary. But the story became even more memorable when George Les teamed with George Les Jr. to win the championship.
That victory was different.
It was no longer simply about collecting another trophy. It became a passing of the torch — a grandfather and grandson winning together on one of the biggest stages in tournament history.
And with that win, the number changed from five to six.
Six championships.
A number that feels almost untouchable in an event this competitive.
What makes Les’ dominance even more impressive is the era in which he accomplished it. The Invitational Shootout has consistently featured strong fields, experienced scramble players, and countless teams capable of going low. Winning once requires talent. Winning repeatedly requires something deeper: composure, timing, chemistry, and the ability to perform when every shot matters.
The greatest champions in sports often develop an aura around them — a feeling that they expect to win when the pressure is highest. George Les appears to carry that same quality at the Shootout.
Multiple-Time Invitational Shootout Champions
| Player | Championships | Winning Years |
|---|---|---|
| George Les | 6 | 2007, 2011, 2014, 2018, 2023, 2025 |
| Paul Manolitsis | 3 | 2014, 2018, 2023 |
| Hennessy-York | 3 | 2015, 2017, 2019 |
| Ray Shinkle | 3 | 2002, 2003, 2016 |
| Walter Lis | 2 | 1994, 2004 |
| Billy Les | 2 | 2013, 2022 |
Everyone else is chasing history.
George Les owns it.
There is also something fitting about the nickname “King George.” The Invitational Shootout has always carried a unique personality — competitive, slightly theatrical, deeply loyal to tradition, and filled with larger-than-life characters.
Every legendary tournament eventually develops its folklore, and George Les has become central to the mythology of the Shootout itself.
When future generations look back at the history of the tournament, they will see many worthy champions. They will see dramatic finishes, rivalries, and unforgettable moments. But above all, they will see one player whose record towers over the rest.
Six championships across nearly two decades.
A dynasty hidden inside a scramble tournament.
A benchmark that may never be matched.
At the Invitational Shootout, there are champions.
And then there is “King” George Les.