Uniontown, PA – It was the conclusion to an epic IBO tournament season for Levi Morgan as he took home his sweetest IBO victory to date at the 2015 IBO World Championship, the last event of the 2015 season, held at the picturesque Holiday Valley Resort, in Ellicottville, NY August 6-9. While conditions were beautiful, with sunny skies and warm temperatures, the Holiday Valley resort, a recreational ski facility, provided steep inclines and difficult footing throughout the courses. With the win, Morgan fulfilled a new IBO record, taking home the "Grand Slam," which can only be claimed by winning all three legs of the IBO Triple Crown National Championship and the IBO World Championship. Just prior to the World Championship, Morgan was the first to ever win all three legs of the IBO Triple Crown National Championship.
The Pro Division of the IBO sanctioned 3-D event features a total of 40 unmarked targets shot over the course of two consecutive days. 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 are 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. The event's third day presents a final 10-target Shoot Off for the top five scores after the first two rounds of competition.
Prior to the first round, Morgan found himself busy working out kinks on the practice range. Continually judging short on his yardages, he was low on his targets, a concern that was quickly eating at him.
"I don't know what caused it but I was seeing everything shorter than it actually was, it just happens sometimes," said Morgan. "It was during the first round, on a wolverine target that I judged at 39 yards, I forced myself to shoot for 41 yards and I was still a little low. That was it, from there on I just knew I had to adjust if I was going to make anything happen."
After making the mental adjustment, Morgan went on to hit 6 11's in a row on his first 10 targets of the first round. He finished +11 on the day, with no 8's, and held a one-point lead over the rest of the pack. In all, five Pros were within two-points of the lead.
"It's such a stressful situation to be in, really," said Morgan. "I shot what I felt was a solid round, no 8's, and I really didn't feel I could have shot any better, yet you're hanging on to the lead by just a point and know you have to go right back out the next day and do it all over again."
It didn't get any easier on for Morgan on Saturday's round. The course set up for Day two proved every bit as tough as the first day and with great Pros like Joseph Goza, Dan McCarthy, Chance Beaubouef and others nipping at his heals, Morgan felt the pressure, but was determined to stay focused on his own performance.
"I know I can't control what other shooters are going to do on the course, all I can worry about is what I do," Morgan said. "I'm used to being in the chase position, it's what I'm used to, but in this case I had to force myself to be aggressive and shoot like I was chasing for the lead."
An unexpected eight during the second round cost Morgan his lead and he knew it was time to regroup and finish out the round strong. He quickly rebounded with an 11 on a difficult turkey target that had caused others problems and eventually went on to finish the second round with a two-point lead, landing him in the final 10-target finale on Sunday.
In all, eight Pros fell within the top five scores, which qualified for Sunday's third and final round of 10-targets. Qualiifying scores ranged from 412 to Morgan's own 419. Setting off in groups of four shooters, the highest scores shot ahead of the lower four scores. Morgan's first target was a difficult bedded ram positioned straight down hill. Braving the pressure, Morgan found the 10-ring and realized solid "base hits" not "homeruns" would lead to a win on the day. Morgan went on to win his group, but had no idea what was happening in the group behind him, where Joby Shaw was shooting lights-out and quickly racking up points. However, Morgan's consistent shooting throughout the tournament earned him the victory, with a one-point advantage over Shaw.
"Even though I was getting in my own head at times throughout the tournament and felt like I had a bulls-eye on my back, I tried to stay within myself and battle on," stated Morgan. "It'd been three years since I'd won a world title, I'd just won all three legs of the Triple Crown, and I knew this opportunity may not come again. I really wanted this one."
ABOUT LEVI MORGAN: World renowned archer, Levi Morgan, is a 11x 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
ARROWS: Gold Tip Pro 22's with Q2i Fusion vanes, 140 grain heads
REST: QAD HDX Tournament Prototype
SIGHT: CBE Vertex, 3x lens with #1 Clarifier, .010 pin
RELEASE: SCOTT Exxus
PEEP: Peeping Tom
