The Invitational Shootout

Two-Person Scramble Charity Golf Event

Aaron Knight Warns: “Don’t Poke The Bear”

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AARON_KNIGHT_BEARAfter watching his father Tom Knight reach the pinnacle of success winning the 2013 and 2014 Invitational Shootout Legends Division championships, perennial contender Aaron Knight recently announced his return to The Shootout for the first time since 2014. Long considered the best player to have never won The Shootout, Aaron will return for another shot at glory for the historic 25th edition of the top two-person scramble golf event in the Midwest.

Aaron Knight teamed up with his brother Seth in 2014 and in 2012 when they finished T4 behind Champions Dan Cerny and Kyle Kickert. Long-hitting Seth Knight won the 2012 long drive title, but the brothers struggled to play as teammates. Aaron hopes to find his groove in 2018.

“Seeing Dad make history twice made a huge impact on both Seth and I” said Aaron Knight. “We’ve always felt that the Knight family would win multiple Shootout titles, but I’ll be the first to admit that I expected to be the first to win. I’m expecting to play really well this year. I’m practicing harder than ever before to accomplish my goal of winning The Shootout.”

Aaron Knight is no stranger to close calls in the Shootout, losing the 2004 Championship in a sudden death playoff to Joe Hill and Walter Lis. Many players felt that the 2004 defeat left an enduring scar on the psyche of one of the Tournament’s top performers.

“I’m not sure we’ve seen the same Aaron Knight since he lost in 2004” said Joe Hill. “He still shoots consistently in low 70s by himself, but for some reason he’s struggled putting it together on Shootout Saturday. However, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him return to form this year at such an historic event.”

“There’s a saying in Pennsylvania that a wise man knows better than to poke the bear” said Aaron Knight. “I feel like I’ve been poked for too long and this year the Bear is ready to tear apart the competition on Saturday at The Shootout.”

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.”

Will 2013 Bring King George The Third?

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KING_GEORGEFew players in the history of The Invitational Shootout can match the performance of George Les. A two-time Shootout Champion and the winner of the inaugural Shootout Wedge Tournament, “King George” has consistently proven himself under the intense pressure on golf’s biggest stage.

Les quickly made an impact in his first tournament, winning the 2007 Invitational Shootout with long-time partner Dominic Dallio. He lost in a playoff in 2008 to the Armstrong brothers and finished second to Kevin “Hammer” Hyland and Dave Neill in 2009. George returned to glory once again in 2011 with an impressive three stroke victory. Les and Dallio finished second last year to 2012 Champions Dan Cerny and Kyle Kickert.

“I think people have a tendency to overlook George because he’s just so consistent” said 2009 Champion Dave Neill. “The guy seems to figure out a way to be in the hunt year after year. His consistency is really quite amazing.”

It’s stunning to measure the incomparable excellence and consistency of George Les’ brief Tournament history. In his six-year career at The Shootout, George has won twice and finished second three times. All told, the team of Dallio and Les are a combined 35 under par since 2007, a jaw-dropping 21 strokes better than any other team.

“I think George really does intimidate a lot of guys in The Shootout to the point where they start pressing immediately” said 2004 Champion Joe Hill. “They know George will be posting birdies from the minute he grabs a club and they feel they have to attempt abnormally difficult shots to match his brilliance. However, they wind up playing themselves out of the Tournament.”

“The guy has finished in the top two just about every time he’s played” said 2004 runner-up Aaron Knight. “He’s obviously proven himself to be the best player out here, so all we can do is try to prevent King George from grabbing his third crown.”

Aaron Knight Crowned People’s Champion

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After losing in a playoff at the 2004 Invitational Shootout, most experts believed Aaron Knight was poised for greatness. His silky swing and competitive personality was unique among Tournament competitors. After finishing sixth with partner Tony Bruno in 2003, Knight came painfully close in 2004 with partner Mike Kroening.

Despite all that potential, nearly ten years after his first appearance at The Shootout, Aaron Knight is still searching for his first victory. This troubling fact confounds many Shootout Champions who expected Knight would eventually join their ranks.

“With his ball striking and temperament, I’m stunned that Aaron Knight hasn’t won yet” said 2004 Champion Joe Hill. “Let’s face it, Aaron’s got a great swing and a solid short game” said two-time Champion Ray Shinkle. “It doesn’t make sense why he hasn’t won yet.” Said 2009 Shootout Champion Hammer Hyland “Aaron’s got what it takes to win this thing. Unfortunately, he just hasn’t done it.”

Although he’s certainly disappointed in his fruitless quest for the plaid jacket so far, Knight is far from giving up. “Listen, I’ve had my chances” said Aaron Knight. “But for one reason or another it hasn’t worked out yet. And despite my setbacks, I’m still one of the most popular players in the history of The Shootout. In fact, I’ve heard from a lot of supportive fans who really want me to win. At this point in my career, I feel like I’m The People’s Champion, which is pretty cool.”

Aaron Knight Looking for New Partner

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AARON KNIGHTWith just less than 3 months before the tournament, the Invitational Shootout Pairings Committee has heard from anonymous sources that Aaron Knight is shopping around for a new partner. Many still view Knight as the best player to have never won this prestigious tournament.

Shootout Champion Joe Hill thinks that Knight has a few more good years of golf left in him, “but he is obviously feeling the pressure as his window of opportunity to win this thing closes more rapidly with age and his deteriorating physical conditioning, or lack thereof.” Shootout Champion Mike Howley added, “Aaron has become increasingly aloof and solitary on the golf course with each passing year without a title. You can almost see the added stress on Aaron when the subject of the Invitational Shootout is mentioned. I really feel bad for the guy, but I think his new partner, whoever that may be, should be aware that he will be stepping into a very volatile situation.”

Ray Shinkle, a two-time Invitational Shootout champion, responded that “(he) could see things going south real quick if Knight’s new partner were to shoot poorly on the opening holes.” Shinkle then caught himself and refused any further comment on the impetus for Knight’s search for a new playing partner citing his desire to stay on Knight’s “good side.”

Mike Kroening Bags Two Turkeys

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MIKE KROENING TURKEYAnother year has passed and not much has changed. Former champions, Mike Howley, Walter Lis, Ray Shinkle and Joe Hill all had solid performances once again in the Shootout, a tournament that some golfers claim is more pressure packed than Q School or even the Ryder Cup. Meanwhile, nerves once again seemed to get the better of Aaron Knight, who under normal circumstances makes up for his lack of length with solid ball striking.

Mike Kroening, Knight’s long time partner, cut his two week turkey hunt short just so he could try to settle Knight’s annual jitters. Kroening commented, “Aaron is a nervous wreck out there! Perhaps he (Knight) should attend my annual month long annual turkey hunt before the Shootout to help clear his mind. Kroening (pictured), who bagged the nearly 35 pound turkey the day before the Shootout, remarked “I went from hunting turkey one day to playing with a turkey the next!”

2004 Defeat Still Haunts Aaron Knight

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AARON KNIGHT MIKE KROENINGOf the 28 players to have worn the wool jacket as Invitational Shootout Champions, it’s safe to say very few possess the PGA Tour caliber ball-striking of Aaron Knight. Despite a very impressive golf resume, Knight has been universially accepted as the “Best Player to Have Never Won The Shootout”, a moniker that does not sit well with this normally affable golfer.

“Yeah, it does bother me to be called the best player to have never won The Shootout” said Aaron Knight. “I don’t think a day goes by without the painful memories of the 2004 playoff loss. Mike Kroening and I really have to produce this year or I may have to contemplate serious changes.”

Aaron Knight Prepares for the 2009 Shootout

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After reading of his game’s demise on the Shootout website, Aaron Knight has embarked on an intense training and practice regimen in preparation for Saturday’s showdown culminating in his participation in this year’s Memorial Tourney Skins Game in Dublin, Ohio.

“I was shocked, but not totally surprised when Jack {Nicklaus} asked me to participate this year” said Knight. Nicklaus was in complete admiration of Knight’s revamped swing when touring Redtail Gold Course in Lakewood, IL as part of a course revamp. “When I saw him swing, I was reminded of some of the game’s greats and said to myself, he has to be included…”

Hill and Knight Going in Wrong Direction for Different Reasons

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Commentary by 2006 Shootout Champion Mike Howley

Joe Hill has gone the way of John Daly…too much Tennessee booze, Pall Mall coffin nails and trailer parties with women with names like Trixiebelle and Shirlene have wrecked a once promising golf career. The only question is when John Eterno, Hill’s long time golf partner, will decide to pull the plug on the golf partnership.

AARON_KNIGHTAaron Knight on the other hand remains the Shootout’s greatest enigma. Will his poor performance this year be due to the nerves of performing on the greatest stage of all, the travel fatigue associated with the long journey to the southside or the recent revelation of a 4th Knight sibling? He no doubt will use all of these excuses to explain why another title eludes him in ’09.