Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Morgan Captures 6th IBO Triple Crown National Championship

Uniontown, PA – World Champion 3-D archer and host of Name The Game TV, Levi Morgan, pulled out another come-from-behind victory at the third leg of the IBO National Championship, held July 10-12th at the Cardinal Shooting Center, in Morengo, OH. This was Morgan's sixth IBO Triple Crown National Championship in a row. Further, Morgan claimed a new IBO "first," as the only professional archer to have ever won each of the three legs of the Triple Crown to take home the National Championship. Morgan ended the Triple Crown race with 1259 total points and 73x's, which put him 19-points and14x's ahead of the second place finisher.

Morgan's road to the final win at Morengo started out rocky, ending the first day a 207, with 9x's. He was six points back from the leader and tied for fourth place. Wet, muddy conditions had made an already long and hilly course, even more challenging.

"It just wasn't the round I needed and I found myself in a hole, once again," said Morgan. "Others were gaining on me for the Triple Crown points total so I scrambled that night, after the first round, just trying to find some peace."

However, Day 2 brought even worse weather, with more rain and dark, cloudy skies. The heavy canopy of the wooded course made target-viewing conditions very difficult for everyone. After a night of reflection, Morgan found the confidence he needed and hit 11's on his first two targets of the day, which tied him for the lead early in the second round.

"The conditions on Day 2 were the worst I'd ever competed in, it was just so dark and you couldn't get good footing in the mud," said Morgan. "But sticking those first two targets evened the playing field and I felt like I had a clean slate. I told myself, 'now it's time to win.'"

Morgan, always a fierce competitor when coming from behind, found his stride and pounded one 11 after another throughout the course, ending with a second day at 213 and 15x's. For the tournament, Morgan finished with a total score of 420 and 24x's.

The Pro Division of the IBO sanctioned 3-D event features a total of 20 unmarked targets shot on Day 1 and 20 unmarked targets shot on Day 2. Contestants shoot each target once per day, scored as 5 (non-vital body), 8, 10, and 11-point rings per target, thus a perfect possible score of 440. Target distances varied in range out to a maximum of approximately 50 yards. No range finding equipment is allowed at the IBO unmarked event, putting additional pressure on shooters to accurately judge distances.

Morgan won all three legs of the IBO Triple Crown National Championship using the same blue ELITE Victory bow, set-up ahead of the first event and left untouched throughout the season. The Gold Tip 22 Pros were actually same arrows he used in 2014 to win the previous year's IBO National Championship title.

"I've always said, through prayer and preparation anything is possible," said Morgan. "If you work hard, the opportunities will present themselves and you just have to be ready to make the most of them – and that's what I did this weekend."


ABOUT LEVI MORGAN: World renowned archer, Levi Morgan, is a 10x World Champion, 42x National Champion, 11x Shooter of the Year and has won the ASA Shooter of the Year title a record setting 8x in a row. He is the Host of the popular hunting show, Name The Game, currently airing on the Sportsman Channel. For more information on Levi Morgan, please visit NameTheGameTV.com.


LEVI MORGAN TOURNAMENT SET UP:
BOW: Elite Victory – 72 lbs.
ARROWS: Gold Tip 22 Pros with Q2i Fusion X 2.1 vanes
REST: QAD HDX Tournament Prototype
SIGHT: CBE Vertex, no lens, .010 pin
RELEASE: SCOTT Exxus