History in the Making: The Brownells Lady 3-Gun Pro-Am Challenge
Britney Starr 11.14.14
The Brownells Lady 3-Gun Pro-Am Challenge, the first national all-female 3-gun match ever held, hosted 155 shooters from across the globe. According to the data compiled as of this writing, 33 states and four countries (the United States, Canada, Malaysia, and Australia) were represented at the event. Planned by match director Lisa Marie Judy and hosted by Atlanta 3-Gun, this historic event took place at South River Gun Club from October 29 through November 1, 2014 in Covington, Georgia.
Ran in half-day format, the event offered plenty of activities for the ladies, including instructional clinics, a wine and cheese social, just-for-fun side matches, a Halloween costume party, and an awards banquet.
Pre-match day one hosted an opportunity for the amateur ladies to learn from Kay and Lena Miculek, two talented and professional 3-gunners. Their expert advice during the instructional clinics included basic grip and stance for pistol, rifle, and shotgun; how to manage recoil; three methods of shotgun loading; and even a stage demo in which the ladies showed how they break down a course of fire.
With a large crowd of fellow competitors looking on, a squad of professional lady 3-gunners shot through all eight stages during pre-match day two. The pros were then available to lend their tips, tactics, and advice, and assist the amateur ladies for the next two days.
A wine and cheese social hosted by Gun Talk TV also took place on pre-match day two.
The excitement was contagious as match day one kicked off with bundled-up ladies braving the chilly 50-degree Georgia morning during the shooters’ meeting. After a quick welcome from Lisa Marie and safety brief from range master Chris Palmer, squads took to their stages and the first shots were fired.
Stages at South River Gun Club were set up in bays, close to one another. Those competitors who were within driving distance to the match brought buggies, carts, or wagons to transport their guns, ammo, and gear from stage to stage. Competitors who flew in for the match quickly made friends within their squads, and sharing carts was a commonality.
After each squad shot through four stages, competitors enjoyed a barbeque and Halloween party, courtesy of 5.11 Tactical. Nikki Turpeaux of Archangel Tactical, LLC awarded prizes in the individual costume, squad costume, and junior costume categories, and XS Sight Systems, Brownells, Froglube, and Atlanta Range & Ordnance provided swag bags for the winners.
Match day two brought even colder 40-degree temps and wind gusts somewhere near 30 mph, and the ladies donned their Leupold beanies that they were given in the swag bags during registration. Many competitors exclaimed that it was the best thing they received—including me!
At age 10, Shyanne Roberts was the youngest competitor in attendance. She later won an award for her last-place finish that was affectionately dubbed the “Tough as Nails” award, and was gifted a custom purple rifle from ALG Defense.
As the end of shooting neared, squads joined together for hugs and group pictures. Here, the women of squad 13 put their hands “all in” for one final group rally.
After match scores were posted, and the ladies showered and donned dresses and heels, the grand finale and awards banquet took place at Cherokee Run Golf in Conyers, Georgia. A standing-room-only crowd looked over a prize table worth more than $270,000, one of the largest in 3-gun history, compliments of an extensive list of sponsors.
Winners of the 2014 Brownells Lady 3-Gun Pro-Am Challenge were as follows:
- First, second, and third place professional in Tac Ops division, sponsored by Benelli USA: Lena Miculek, Dianna Liedorff-Muller, and Becky Yackley
- First, second, and third place amateur in Tac Ops division, sponsored by STI, Benelli USA, and ArmaLite: Ashley Rheuark, Sky Killian, and Katie Francis
- First place Tac Irons division, sponsored by Geissele: Audra Brown
- First place Open division, sponsored by Beretta USA: Diana Hufstedler
- First place senior division, sponsored by Armscor/Rock Island Armory: Janelle Weathers
- First place junior division, sponsored by DoubleStar Corp.: Katie Francis
- First place law enforcement/military professional division, sponsored by MGM Targets: Dianna Liedorff-Muller
- First place law enforcement/military amateur division, sponsored by MGM Targets: Sarah Fontyn
A southpaw from Michigan’s "North Woods," Britney Starr is a freelance writer and editor in the outdoor and shooting markets. She is part owner of Starr & Bodill African Safaris. In the fall, you will most likely find her in an aspen cutting with her German Shorthair Pointer, Wesson, hunting ruffed grouse and woodcock. She would prefer a beautiful over-and-under shotgun to jewelry, any day. Along with being a pro-staff member for Próis Hunting & Field Apparel, a member of Safari Club International, National Wild Turkey Federation, the National Rifle Association, the National Shooting Sports Foundation and the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers, Britney is the founder of the Women’s Outdoor & Shooting Industry Dinner, held annually during SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Nev. Britney truly has an affinity for all things outdoors and strives to connect with and empower other women who share her love of hunting and shooting, or are interested in becoming more involved in those activities.
