The Invitational Shootout

Two-Person Scramble Charity Golf Event

Three Honored With Lifetime Achievement Award

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Collectively, the trio of Len Piersialla, Dan Ricci and Walter Lis Sr. have participated in the Invitational Shootout 33 times. In addition, they’ve been strong supporters of the tournament every year, helping raise the awareness and reach of the Midwest’s top two-person scramble golf tournament.

To honor their efforts and participation, Piersialla, Ricci and Lis were recently honored with the prestigious Invitational Shootout Lifetime Achievement award. The golfers were presented the award by 2010 Lifetime Schievement Award winner John Boyle.

“I’m proud of winning The Shootout in 1999 with my partner Tom Scanlon” said John Boyle. “But I tell my kids about my Invitational Shootout Lifetime Achievement award. Winning this honor goes way beyond what we do on the course and it really helps put things into perspective. These guys will cherish this award for the rest of their lives.”

“I have a great time playing in The Shootout with Dan” said Len Piersialla. “It’s something we both look forward to every spring and helping support a charitable organization like The Helping Hand makes this tournament a must on my calendar every year.”

Knight and Lis Defend Legends Title

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knight_lis_2014he team of Dr. Tom Knight and Walter Lis became the first team since Steve Loulousis and Jim Tinerella to successfully defended their Shootout Legends Division title at the 2014 Invitational Shootout. Knight and Lis won by a single stroke over the 2009 Champions Dennis Cook and John Moirano.

“Playing in The Shootout is unlike any other tournament of the year” said Dr. Knight. “I fly in from my home in Omaha, Nebraska just to be part of this special event and to come away with our second title is really special. We played really well today, especially at the start when we posted a couple quick birdies. However, the level of competition here is so high, you really have to keep the pedal down and stay aggressive our you’ll be lapped quickly.”

With their second victory, Knight and Lis now have their sights set on tying Loulousis and Tinerella’s record of three Legends Division titles. Earning a third straight victory in 2015 won’t be easy as many of the top teams from 2014 are expected to return including Cook/Moirano, McHugh/Vodicka and Bennett/Lang Sr.

“The competition seems to get better every year” said Walter Lis. “I’ve won two Shootout titles and two Shootout legends division titles, but this year’s win was the most difficult. We knew there were some great teams chasing us, especially as things got close at the end. But thankfully we were able to finish strong and post a solid number that earned us the win.”

Big Brothers Retain McMouw Cup

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Despite an astonishing improvement over last year’s blowout, the team of Larry McDonnell and Ryan Mouw were unable to come back from an early deficit, losing the McMouw Cup for the second straight year to Mick McDonnell and Ron Mouw. The Big Brothers needed a strong finish to retain the Cup with a three stroke victory over Larry and Ryan.

Both teams showed tremendous progress over last year and both posted their lowest scores in the four-year history of The McMouw Cup. The Younger Brothers last won the Cup in 2012 with a 16-over par score of 88. This year they lost by three with a score of 84.

“I’ve got to give Larry and Ryan a lot of credit” said Mick McDonnell. “They started slowly, but really played their hearts out on the back nine today. It was a lot easier to put these guys away a couple years ago, but they’ve worked hard on their games and are much stronger mentally.”

“It’s always disappointing when you lose the McMouw Cup” said Ryan Mouw. “But I’m really proud of our effort today. I’ve been working on my swing and my approach to the game with my coach, Mike Mandakas over at The Chicago Players Club. Mike and his team have made a huge impact on my game and it showed today. I’m really looking forward to the Flagg Creek Showdown this year.”

Les Paul Team Wins 2014 Shootout

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It took a new partner for the man widely regarded as the greatest competitor in tournament history, George Les, to win his record-setting third Invitational Shootout championship. “King” George partnered with newcomer Paul Manolitsis to defeat the defending champions, Rob Garcia and Billy Les, by a single shot in the 2014 Invitational Shootout at Water’s Edge Golf Club in Worth.

A winner in 2007 and 2011 with Dominic Dallio, George Les recruited long-hitting Manolitsis to replace the injured Dallio for this year’s event. Manolitsis proved more than capable of stepping into Dallio’s prestigious shoes, using his prodigious length to supplement George Les’ artistry around the greens.

However, it took back-to-back birdies by King George himself on the final two holes to overcome his son and partner Garcia. With the victory, George became the only player in Shootout history with three victories.

“Manolitsis is the real deal” said 2004 Champion Joe Hill. “Our group was right behind theirs and we saw that guy hit some amazing shots. I know Dom was a special player, but I think Paul has him beat. He was definitely the most dominant player on the entire golf course today.”

“I drained about a 20-foot putt on 17 to tie the score and then I drained a similar length putt on the final hole for the win” said George Les. “I’m not sure if Rob and Billy knew what hit them, but I’ve done this before.”

Water’s Edge Ready For Battle

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When the normally perspicacious Invitational Shootout competition committee played the first official practice round of 2014 at Water’s Edge Golf Club in Worth on Friday, May 30, they saw a lot more than they expected. In fact, the committee unanimously agreed that the host course to this year’s Invitational Shootout was in spectacular shape.

“I was blown away by the condition of the course” said committee member Joe Hill. “The greens are fast and firm, the fairways are terrific and the bunkers are perfect. The only thing golfers at this year’s Shootout won’t like will be the high and thick rough. If you’re not in the fairway, you’re in trouble.”

The overwhelming majority of the golf courses in Chicago and the suburbs were hit hard by the record-setting cold this winter, which caused many facilities to lose entire greens. After an extended freeze of nearly six months, the poa annua, or annual meadow grass, which is native to this area, started to loose oxygen and never recovered on many courses.

Bill Casper Golf, which manages Water’s Edge Golf Club, worked tirelessly this spring to make sure the greens would be ready for first Saturday in June and The Shootout. “We had our entire team using June 7th as a target date to make sure these greens would be around a 12 or 13 on the Stimpmeter for The Shootout” said head groundskeeper Jeff Davis. “Thankfully we’ve got a strong root system that came alive in mid-May and has been growing really well. The course will be ready for battle on Shootout Saturday, I hope the golfers will be as well.”

Competition Questions Drastic Swing Changes By Shinkle

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When you’re a two-time Invitational Shootout Champion, you’re used being scrutinized each time you change partners or join a new country club. But even two-time Champion Ray Shinkle was surprised at the response from the competition when he announced he was making major swing changes.

“I couldn’t believe how many guys thought I was crazy for changing my golf swing” said Shinkle. “Look, after coming up short in the playoff last year I made a commitment to myself and my partner that 2014 would be a different story. That required basically reworking my entire golf swing and I’m happy with the results.”

Known as “The Predator” for his precision ball striking, Ray Shinkle won the 2002 and 2003 Invitational Shootouts at Maple Meadows Country Club. With the victories, he became the first golfer to win back-to-back Shootout titles with two different partners.

“I was really surprised when I heard Ray was drastically altering his golf swing” said 2004 runner-up Aaron Knight. “The guy was known as ‘The Predator’ for a reason. He took aim at the pin like he was on the hunt. I’m not sure he’ll be able to find that comfort level with a new swing.”

“I’ve got all the respect in the world for Ray” said 2004 Champion Joe Hill. “But changing such a beautiful golf swing makes no sense to me. I’m not sure how much damage losing in the playoff last year caused to him emotionally. I know Mike wasn’t really upset, but I know Ray took it hard. Hopefully he can bounce back and make another run at the title this year.”

Will History Repeat Itself in 2014?

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Although it happened ten years ago, Joe Hill remembers his victory with Walter Lis in the 2004 Invitational Shootout as if it were yesterday. “It really doesn’t seem that long ago” said Joe Hill. “I started out red hot and Walter got us into the playoff. We played two holes in sudden death and I hit a long putt from the fringe for the victory.”

Hill and Lis defeated the team of Aaron Knight and Mike Kroening for the victory at Maple Meadows Country Club in Wood Dale. “I wasn’t surprised that Joe drained the putt off the green on the second playoff hole to beat us. He was playing terrific golf at the time and had a great deal of confidence. I told Mike that we needed to make birdie on that hole because Joe looked ready. Unfortunately, I was right.”

The victory at the 2004 Invitational Shootout was the first for Joe Hill and the second for Walter Lis. “I’ve won in 1994, 2004 and am expecting another title in 2014” said Walter Lis. “It’s great to look back on the victory in 2004, especially considering how hard we had to fight to get it. It’s a great reminder that the path to greatness is along with others.”