NEW STRUCTURE, SAME GREAT TEAM USA SHOOTOUT

The night's action continued after the Pub Championship with the highly anticipated Team USA Shootout – a newly structured 50-man contest designed for the top midwestern qualifiers. The stakes were high: with the top three shooters in the event earning a spot on Team USA and an all-expenses paid trip to the 2008 Golden Tee World Championship in Las Vegas next spring – so the pressure started to build from the onset.

The five-course Team USA Shootout format was packed with incredible action and unbridled talent. Which came as no surprise to many as the Midwest Region had not one but two World Champions along with numerous other decorated players in the field.

And they did not disappoint.

See the full leaderboard!

An excited crowd intently watched the leaderboard as the 50 Golden Tee stars tried spin their ways into the top three. Out front quick was Michigan ringer Jeff McClellan of Grand Rapids, MI with his not-to-be-matched score of -129. The former Team USA member posted a -27 on Pam Springs and a -28 on Moose Landing - both were bests for the Shootout. The effort was good enough for top qualification status and marked McClellan's third Team USA berth.

One stroke behind sat the bubble boys Jason Matkovich of Madison Heights, MI and Marc "The Mouth" Muklewicz of Naperville, IL. With their -128's they had a lot of sweating to do before they could officially be named Team USA members. Ed Godfrey of Wheaton, IL, Jimmy Parker of St. Charles, MO, and Joe Caradonna of Warren, MI all staged late runs but they weren't enough to sneak into the top three.

Matkovich's qualification marks the second time the three-time player of the year has made it to the global stage and the first for Muklewicz – an honor that many say "was a long time coming."

The trio now joins the likes of World Champion Graig Kinzler to set the foundation for this illustrious team. Six more Team USA spots are on the line in the two remaining Regionals events along with a "For Love of the Game" draft in early 2008!

CONGRATULATIONS MARC "THE MOUTH" MUKLEWICZ,
JEFF MCCLELLAN AND JASON MATKOVICH!