PHOENIX, Ariz. – Day three of the 2024 Arizona Cup was the day for the Masters to shine, and shine they did with four of the six gold medal matches involving the top two seeds.
Among the winners were local archers Larry Butterfield and Deanna Cronin, who successfully defended their titles in the compound 50+ men and compound 50+ women respectively. For Cronin, it was a three-peat, having also won in 2022.
Butterfield, the second seed, defeated top seed Kenneth Brunko. Cronin, the number one seed, overcame seventh seed Sharon Totton.
Janis Grellner (1) and Rick Stonebraker were others to return and retain her title. The Missouri archer Grellner got the better of another Arizona-based talent in Nicole Rasor (2) – the 2022 champion – in the recurve 50+ women. Stonebraker (1) beat Stephen Hilger (2) in the barebow 50+ men.
In another meeting between seeds one and two, Mark Hainline (2) proved too strong for Ted Holland (1), enjoying a 6-0 win in the recurve 50+ men.
For the second year in a row, Lisa Sullivan (5) had to be content with silver in the barebow 50+ women’s event, losing to Cheri Gandy (3).
Bronze medals in each event went to Richard Doerksen (barebow 50+ men), Deb Dimatteo (barebow 50+ women), Carrie Lin (compound 50+ women), Brent Brown (compound 50+ men), 2021 silver medalist Melissa McAvoy (recurve 50+ women) and defending champion Ron Gosnell (recurve 50+ men).
Saturday afternoon was taken up by qualification for U21 and U18 archers in barebow, compound, fixed pins and recurve. Their elimination matches take place on Sunday morning.
Michelle Ahn, the defending champion in the recurve U21 women, is third seed after Saturday’s qualification. Eunice Haeri Choi is the top seed, followed by Abigail Kippes.
Matthew Parmenter is back to defend the recurve U18 men’s title he won 12 months ago. His score of 636 was enough to place him seventh seed heading into Sunday. The archer he beat in the U18 final a year ago – Patrick Nielsen – has stepped up an age category, and put in the second best score among recurve U21 men.
Sergio Garcia posted 698 in qualification in the compound U21 men. Eli Bartron, who finished fourth at this event last year, came through qualification as the number three seed with a score of 687. Defending champion Parker Braddock is seventh seed and last year’s bronze medalist, Cooper Davies, posted the ninth best score.
Dewey Hathaway won the compound U18 men’s title last year as the number one seed. He is back in 2024 and will head into eliminations as the fourth seed.
Bronze medalist in the barebow U21 men from last year, Andrew Van Why, will be hoping to improve on his return from 2023. The Arizona archer is third seed after Saturday’s qualification.
On the women’s side, reigning barebow U21 women's champion Anastacia Godman is second seed, despite managing the same score as top seed Sarah Kate Jentsch of 541.
In the barebow U18 men, Arizona’s Bryce Henak is top seed after a 599. Among the chasing pack will be third seed and 2023 champion Anthony Malik.
The silver medalist in the barebow U18 women, Carley Thompson, is aiming to go one better. She is fourth seed ahead of the final day of the 2024 Arizona Cup on Sunday.
Eric Hughes (Arizona) appears the man to beat once again. Victorious last time out, he is top seed for the 2024 edition in the fixed pins U18 men.
Madalynn Puryear and Destinie Brown – silver medalist in the 2023 fixed pins U18 women – will meet on Sunday morning in the gold medal match for the fixed pins U21 women.
Latest scores and results from the Arizona Cup can be found on Between Ends, with action photos from each day of competition.
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