A 12-year-old Juneau girl took down one of Alaska’s best trap shooters on Sunday at the Juneau Gun Club’s Spring Shoot.
Mackenzie Lam, a rising eighth-grader at Floyd Dryden Middle School, defeated Fairbanks Trap Club’s Brian “Stubby” Hughes in the handicap shoot, one of four events that comprised the two-day shoot. The other events included singles and doubles. Targets are thrown between 19 and 27 yards distance in handicap (depending on shooter’s ability), whereas in singles and doubles targets are thrown from 16 yards distance.
Juneau Trap Team’s Mackenzie Lam, center, stands on a makeshift podium after defeating Fairbanks Trap Club’s Pete Hudson, left, and Brian “Stubby” Hughes in the handicap shoot, one of four events that comprised the Spring Shoot at the Juneau Gun Club last weekend. (Courtesy Photo | Marie Lam)
Lam hit 94 out of 100 targets at 19 yards, while Hughes hit 92 out of 100 targets at 27 yards. The shooters’ target distance is based on previous tournament wins. Youth begin at the 19-yard line while adults start at the 20-yard line and work their way back.
“It was a big thing for a 12-year-old to compete on a high level with peers, or adults, especially like Stubby Hughes, one of the best shooters in the state of Alaska,” Jerry Godkin, Juneau Gun Club president, said by phone on Tuesday afternoon.
Hughes had the highest overall score of 480 (500 was a perfect score) at the tournament. Pete Hudson, also of the Fairbanks Trap Club, shot 471 to finish in second place. For the youth, Thunder Mountain’s Brice Norton and Lam were in a virtual tie after the fourth event. Norton garnered 444 and Lam garnered 443.
Lam was also given an award for hitting 75 consecutive targets.
Juneau Gun Club President Jerry Godkin presents Mackenzie Lam with a 75 Trap Patch, awarded to individuals who hit 75 straight targets. (Courtesy Photo | Marie Lam)
Eleven Juneau youth, including Norton and Lam, will be competing Wednesday through Saturday at the AlaskaYess State Championship at Birchwood Shooting Park in Chugiak. Lam will then be going on to the USAYess National Junior Clay Championship from June 27-July 1 in San Antonio, Texas.
Godkin, who will shooting trap in Whitehorse this weekend, said he’s impressed with the local youth shooters.
“The youth are just phenomenal these days and they put us old men to shame,” Godkin said.
Juneau Gun Club members at the annual spring shoot at the club on Sunday, June 2, 2019. (Courtesy Photo | Marie Lam)
