Gold Tip’s Ben Cleland Wins NFAA Indoor National Championships
OutdoorHub 03.18.13
First-year Gold Tip Pro Staff member, Ben Cleland, took home top honors at the NFAA Indoor National Championships, held March 3/15-3/17, in Louisville, KY. This was Cleland’s first National NFAA win in the Pro Division.
Cleland, 20, shot a perfect score of 600 120x’s, in total, for Saturday and Sunday’s high-pressured opening rounds to make the final shoot-off for the National Title. Joining Cleland in the final shoot-off were 2012 NFAA Indoor National Champion, Levi Morgan, Chance Beaubouef, John Vozzy, and Bridger Deaton each of whom also shot perfect scores during the Saturday and Sunday’s first two rounds. In total, Cleland and the additional four Gold Tip/Bee Stinger Pro Staff members made up half of the entire Pro Division finalists included in the shoot-off. Cleland ultimately won the Championship with five “inside out” X’s (shot at 20 yards, arrow must fall within the silver dollar-sized X-ring circle without touching the line) in the first round of “inside out” scoring during the final shoot-off.
While many shooters opt for smaller diameter shafts during the “inside out” scoring rounds, Cleland stuck with the Gold Tip Triple X Pros that had been proving successful all weekend. In all, Gold Tip Pro Hunters, Ultralight Pros, Ultralight Series 22 Pros, and Triple X Pros were all represented in the final shoot-off. Likewise, Bee Stinger Premier Plus stabilizer systems were used by each of the five Pro Staff shooters, as well.
But success wasn’t limited to the Pro Division. Bee Stinger Pro Staff member, Tony Harbaugh won the Senior Pro Division and Gold Tip/Bee Stinger Pro Staff member, Tim Ewers, won the Bowhunter Freestyle division, which was ultimately dominated by Gold Tip Triple X Pros and Bee Stinger Stabilizers.
“This was a big win for Ben and another great victory for Gold Tip and Bee Stinger,” said Tim Gillingham, Gold Tip/Bee Stinger Pro Staff Director. “It was Ben’s first as part of our Pro Staff and we’re proud of his performance under such high pressure situation, shooting among the best in the world. But, the overall performance of Gold Tip and Bee Stinger Pro Staff members, at all levels, continues to show our brands are truly the choice of champions.”
