The 3F Club in Lewiston, New York, hosted the 3F Summer Classic on July 15-17. The 3F continues to host one of the top money shoots in New York, with over $2500 added money. The weather for the weekend was great with sunny blue skies and light winds. Mother Nature was kind this year compared to last year’s monsoon rains.
Friday’s doubles event resulted in two 98s posted by Brian Milanese and Dave Cooley, setting up a battle of the southpaws. Milanese took the championship, and class winners were Mat Kelley (AA), Matt Lenehan (A), John Boone (B) and Doug Goodman (C).
Saturday’s bright morning sun for the 12-gauge brought out the dark shooting glasses. Dave Cooley posted the lone 100 for the championship, and four 99s shot off for runner-up – Kody Hoth, Steve Wood, Jeff Ventry and Colin Smingler. After a lengthy shoot-off, Hoth claimed the runner-up title. Class winners were Steve Wood (AA), Jeff Ventry (A), Jon Zywiczynski (B), Dan Holdsworth (C), Owen Cooley (D) and Victor Stirpe (E).
After the lunch break sponsored by Ventry’s Pizza, shooters took to the fields to start the 28-gauge event. Two 99s were posted by Dr. Michael Ferchaw and Jon Zywiczynski; Ferchaw won the championship and Zywiczyski runner-up. Class winners were Steve Wood (AA), Bernie Lenehan (A), Brian Milanese (B), Cindy Johnson (C) and Owen Cooley (D).
Saturday night shooters and guests were treated to pulled pork, Natural Link locally made Italian, Polish and jalapeno sausage, shrimp, fruit trays and a dessert table. Thanks to our key sponsors this year, we were able to keep our traditional added money pay-outs in these uncertain times: Manth Manufacturing (our keynote sponsor for many years), Dawson Enterprises (ammo and reloading supplies from Massillon, Ohio) and Cambria Game Farms. Jimmy Johnson had the luck of his Swedish heritage, winning both 50/50 raffles, that paid for his weekend instead of his shooting.
Sunday had ideal weather conditions for the day. The lone 100 in the 20-gauge was posted by Kody Hoath, taking the championship. This was also Kody’s first 100 in the 20-gauge. Dave Cooley captured the runner-up title with the lone 99. Class winners Steve Wood (AA), Matt Lenehan (A), Christopher Dole (B), Doug Goodman (C) and Victor Stirpe (D).
In everyone’s favorite event, the .410, 97s were posted by Victoria Ferchaw and Aaron Burnett, with Aaron outlasting Victoria in the shoot-off to win the championship. Class winners Mat Kelley (AA), Jon Zywiczynski (A), Matt Lenehan (B), Victor Stirpe (C) and Owen Cooley (D).
The HOA crown came down to a pair of 389s posted by Mike Ferchaw and Steve Wood, squaring off on the shoot-off field. Ferchaw outlasted Wood for the win. Class winners were Mat Kelley (AA), Victoria Ferchaw (A), Christopher Dole (B), Doug Goodman (C) and Owen Cooley (D), as well as Junior Champion.
Thank you to all of our dedicated sponsors – without them, the shoot would not happen. Thanks also to our referees who did an excellent job and had the stamina to hang in there, and to all our volunteers who made this shoot possible – Mike Clarke, Fredo Vanoni, Dave Sobiegray, Jeff Ventry Rich Falcone and Tim Baldwin. Our thanks to Jackie Ventry and Lisa Kelly for running the shoot and dinner table and to all the shooters for making our event a growing success. Please join us again next year and bring along your new shooting friends. Hopefully things will get back to normal by then.
– Contributed by Dave Sobiegray