ANTALYA, Turkey - After a week of record-breaking weather, the World Cup Antalya finals moved to the beach, where rain and wind played a bigger factor.
USA's compound men's team of Braden Gellenthien, Steve Anderson and Kris Schaff, the undefeated and reigning world champion trio stepped into the arena in a rematch of the World Cup Shanghai final against Korea. Korea opened strong with a 59 to USA's 56. Both teams put up 59s the next end, but then as USA finished the back half with two 57s, Korea pulled ahead and took the victory, leaving the U.S. men with silver.
Then, in individual finals, Braden Gellenthien, who earned a shot at bronze after a semifinal shoot off against teammate Kris Schaff. Gellenthien had actually posted some of the highest scores across the field in match play leading up to the finals, and today was no different. Despite a 28 in the second end, Gellenthien otherwise cleaned the match, with a whole lot of Xs, 5 to be exact, to close 148-146 with the win.
Kris Schaff then faced World #4 Mike Schloesser of the Netherlands for the gold. With incredible accuracy and consistency, Schaff opened with a tightly grouped 30 to Schloessers 29. But in the second end, a wide 8 could have been the end of things for Schaff. Unfettered, Schaff pounded strong 10s to bring the score to an 88-88 tie with two ends to go.
Tension high, both archers continued with 29s, tied still headed into the final three arrows. Schloesser opened with an X, and Schaff countered with one of his own. Schloesser threw another 10 and Schaff scored a 9. Schloesser put his last arrow in the 9 and the door was open to force a shoot off. With everything on the line, including automatic qualification for the World Cup Final per the new rule, the pressure got to Schaff and he closed with a 9. Schloesser took the match 146-145.
USA's Paige Pearce Gore was the sole woman to compete in the finals against host country favorite, Turkey's Yesim Bostan. For the compound women's gold final Bostan had the crowd, and great pressure to take her first major international win. Bostan opened strong with two perfect 30s, as Gore wound up with a 58 over two ends. But then, with an 8 for Bostan and a clean 30 for Gore, the score, much like Schaff's match, went to an 88-all tie. Both archers posted 29s to follow bringing the score to 117-117 headed into the final three arrows. With an X and two 9s to Bostan's 30, Gore finished with the silver, her best individual outdoor world cup finish since 2015!
Complete results from the competition are available at www.worldarchery.org. For more, follow USA Archery on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Photo: World Archery
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