LUBBOCK, Texas. – The 140th Chinook Seedery USA Archery Target Nationals & U.S. Open drew to a close on Saturday afternoon with gold medal matches in the senior division providing some truly touching family moments.
These included the father and son combination as part of the compound men’s final. Kris Schaff installed son Trexton into the coach’s box and it seemed to inspire Schaff senior as he added the U.S. Open title to the national champion crown he had won on Friday. Schaff, who clearly enjoyed the fist bumps and high fives with his son, took the honors from James Lutz 145-143, in a repeat of the 2023 final which was won 148-146 by Lutz.
Lutz was not to be outdone and invited a young girl from the local archery club to be his support, showing real class from these two elite archers.
The recurve women’s gold medal was won by Casey Kaufhold, as she claimed her first-ever U.S. Open title. The Olympic mixed team bronze medalist defeated TzuYing Kuo of Chinese Taipei. Stood behind Kaufhold for the match was mom Carole.
"It was fun," Kaufhold commented. "We decided this was just going to be a girls' trip, so it was just me and mom here. She helped me all week, keeping me level-headed.
"She plays mom and then when she has to play coach, she plays coach and she does them both really well."
Elsewhere, Brady Ellison – like Schaff and Kaufhold – added the U.S. Open title to the national championship won a day earlier. The double Olympic medalist from Paris 2024 saw off a spirited Nicholas D’Amour 7-3.
In a repeat of the Rebel Gear Buckeye Classic gold medal match, 17-year-old Olivia Dean capped off a phenomenal year - during which she took two gold and two silver at the four USAT Qualifier Series events – with victory over Carson Krahe, the Buckeye Classic champion. The match went to a one arrow shootoff, with Dean coming out on top.
It was an emotional Diane Cochran who claimed gold from defending champion Francesca Benavidez in the barebow women, while national champion Zackary Bisinger became U.S. Open champion with a 6-4 win over Gator Cup winner Brian Way.
Cochran said, "I won Target Nationals last year and went out pretty early in the U.S. Open and I spent the entire year trying so hard to be able to get to this moment, that it's amazing."
Mark Williams and Jamie McCarrison both did the double in recurve 50+ division. Williams added the U.S. Open to his national champion gold, beating second seed Ron Gosnell in the final. McCarrison made sure of double gold with a 6-0 win over Marion Hans on Saturday.
In compound 50+ men, second seed Brent Brown denied Kenneth Brunko his second gold of the week as he secured victory 140-136. Wendy Gardner did complete the sweep, with a 138-135 win over Alanna Dunaway in compound 50+ women.
Rick Stonebraker left Lubbock with his second gold. He overcame Stephen Hilger 6-0 in the final of the barebow 50+ men. It was the same story in the barebow 50+ women. Number one seed Barbara Carroll topped the second seed Cheri Gundy 6-0.
You can find all the scores and result from the Chinook Seedery USA Archery Target Nationals & U.S. Open on BetweenEnds, with photos from the event available also.
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