The Invitational Shootout

Two-Person Scramble Charity Golf Event

Shootout Introduces Super Legends Division

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SUPER-LEGENDS-TROPHYThe Invitational Shootout competition committee is introducing the Super Legends Division, which will be open to teams with a minimum combined age of 120. The new division will be contested for the first time this year at the 2015 Invitational Shootout.

With this announcement, there will now be three different divisions open for qualifying competitors at The Shootout – the Super Legends Division, the Legends Division and the Full Field. Teams that qualify for the Super Legends or Legends Division are still eligible to win the Full Field Championship.

This new division is the first such change from the Competition Committee since 2006, when the Legends Division was first introduced. The Tournament moved to Water’s Edge Golf Club that year and the first Legends winners were Bill Stanley and Victor Tocwish.

In 2007, the team of Bob Barasa and John Groark shot a five under par 67 to win the Legends Division title. They finished just one stroke behind the overall Tournament winners, an almost unthinkable feat until that year.

“The Competition Committee unanimously voted to introduce the Super Legends Division primarily because so many great teams are now in that age range” said 2004 Shootout Champion Joe Hill. “We’ve worked very hard over the years to attract and cultivate some of the top players who are 60+, so it only makes sense to create an entirely new division that showcases their talents.”

“I think there will definitely be some crossover between divisions because a lot of these teams that are 120+ can really play” said Competition Committee member Mick McDonnell. “I think something like Barasa and Groark in 2007 could occur again, especially since the top level teams have become so strong.”

All teams will be required to submit a total age at the scorers table before the start of the tournament. Teams with a combined age between 110-119 will qualify for The Legends Division and the Full Field title. Teams with a minimum combined age of 120 will qualify for all three Shootout divisions.

Cerny and Kickert Win 2012 Invitational Shootout

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Dan Cerny and Kyle Kickert overcame a massive field, including six former Champions, to win the 2012 Invitational Shootout at Water’s Edge Golf Club in Worth. This was Cerny’s first appearance in the Shootout and only the second start for Kickert, who paired with Lifetime Achievement Award Winner John Groark in 2011.

Cerny and Kickert used clutch putting and long driving to post an 8-under par 64, defeating second place finishers Dominic Dallio and George Les by four strokes. Cerny drained four putts over 15 feet and the 6’8″ Kickert used his enormous wingspan to consistently drive the ball over 300 yards, leaving short irons into the green for the Champions.

“I’m really proud of Dan’s performance today under such enormous pressure” said Kyle Kickert. “Here’s a guy who’s never faced this kind of intensity and he’s dropping putts from everywhere. Dan’s definitely got ice water in his veins to play at this level on Midwest golf’s biggest stage.”

Fans of the Invitational Shootout were introduced to Kyle Kickert in 2011 when he won the long drive crown with an amazing 347 yard blast. Kickert and Groark finished third last year, losing to Dallio and Les by four strokes.

“Dan and Kyle played really well” said two-time Invitational Shootout Champion George Les. “We didn’t play our best, it’s that simple. However, this won’t happen again. I guarantee that we’ll win next year.”

2011 Lifetime Achievement Awards

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JOHN_GROARKTwo pillars of The Shootout were honored this year by the tournament competition committee with Lifetime Achievement Awards. Tom Senne and John Groark became only the 3rd and 4th participants to receive this prestigious honor.

Tom Senne has participated in 13 of the 18 Invitational Shootouts, including the inaugural event in 1994. He’s also the record holder for most 2nd place finishes with four. Tom’s intensity and competitive spirit has consistently kept him at the top of the leaderboard for nearly two decades.

John Groark was one of the original 16 players to compete at the 1994 Invitational Shootout. Since then he’s shown a steady willingness to adjust his game with different partners, including a 3rd place finish in 2011 with long-hitting Kyle Kickert. John also partnered with Bob Barasa to shoot a five under par 67, to win the Legends Division of the 2007 Invitational Shootout.