Path to success: Start your shooting career in American Skeet as a Junior + college at Lindenwood where much focus was put on International skeet + on to the real world (kind of) and a job at Krieghoff International + back to American Skeet in 2017 = win the HOA at the first two shoots in which he competes, the second being the Paxton Arms Metroplex. Quite a journey for young Nick Boerboon.

A breeze was blowing at the Dallas Gun Club on Friday and Saturday, April 28-29, but targets held well. Houston Deshotels (son of Hall of Famer Luke) broke ’em all in the Doubles event but had to shoot off against TSSA president Jack Davis to claim the top prize. Nick Boerboon won the shoot-off of 99s for third.

Nick Boerboon hinted at what was to come later when he bested Johnny DeLeon, runner-up, and Nicholas Godfrey, third, in the 12-gauge shoot-off.

Young eyes and reflexes are good to have, but burning desire is another quality that young Nick Godfrey has, and it is starting to show. He was the 20-gauge champ with contemporary Houston Deshotels at runner-up. Claiming third place was a young lady who seems to have unlimited potential. Lauren Burge broke her first 100 straight that day, but all of us who know her were not surprised. She is on track to go wherever she wants in the sport. Saturday at the Metroplex was a highlight of your newest generation of skeet champions.

On Saturday night, shooters feasted on Wagyu burgers, brats and hot dogs cooked on the grill by a bevy of volunteer chefs, including Jim Biddle, Al Magyar, Billy Ray Suggs, Tom Pavlack and Nick Boerboon. (Vegetarians dined elsewhere.) All the beef was donated by Ran Davis (myskeet.com). Thanks, Ran!

After fighting fairly high winds for two days, shooters were hoping for a break from the skeet gods. Not to be. Instead, on Sunday the gusty winds increased and shifted from the north, where they do the most damage to the intended flight path of the elusive flying orbs. Someone described the conditions on Sunday as “elemental,” as the targets could randomly choose to seek out the moon, sun, various planets or the Earth. We mortal shooters had no psychic connection with the White Flyers.

Two hard-fought and well-earned 99s were tops in the 28 gauge. Robert Ennes claimed the championship, with Tom Shepherd and Nick Boerboon settling for runner-up and third.

If you had a 9 as the first digit of your .410 score, you had a GREAT day. Houston Deshotels shot a near-impossible 97 to take the .410 outright. Andrew Benson broke the only 95 to claim the runner-up spot, and Mark Windham took third after a shoot-off of 94s.

After many calculations due to the lower scores, Nick Boerboon bested all with his 389 for HOA champion. Andrew Benson was runner-up with 388, and Nicholas Godfrey took third with his 387. Looks like young reflexes was the key to the windblown targets!

In Ladies action, it was almost a clean sweep for another up-and-coming shooter with youth on her side. Lauren Burge, with her mom and dad cheering her on, won four of the five Ladies events, including the HOA. Lindsay Plesko denied her a clean sweep by winning the 28 gauge.

Many shooters left the shoot with battered and bruised egos and average cards, but I did hear a few comment that they enjoyed the challenge. (Note to all out-of-town shooters: naturally, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday brought clear skies and not a breath of wind.)

Kudos to the staff at Dallas Gun Club and all who make the shoot happen, including Woody Anderson, Jim Speer, Ran Davis, Sheri Suggs, and Jack and Glea Davis. Thanks to sponsors “3 on 8,” Briley Mfg. and Krieghoff Intl. Special thanks to Mary DiGiovanni and Ann Hill who manned the time-consuming “2-Man Team Challenge” scoreboard.

How did Hall of Famer and Past President of the NSSA Al Magyar earn his new nickname “Tumbleweed”? Ask him next time you see him.

Come on back next year – Robert Paxton has guaranteed perfect conditions in 2018.

– Contributed by Robert Paxton