Keith Sanderson (USA Shooting photo)
The top three finishers at the National Pistol Championships at Camp Perry are all veteran shooters and all have had military marksmanship training.
The National Pistol Champion was Keith A. Sanderson, a pistol coach at USA Shooting’s Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO, whose aggregate in the 2700 event was 2655-122X. Sanderson has served in both the US Army and US Marine Corps and is currently a sergeant first class in the Army Reverse, which earned him the High Reservist title as well.
Sanderson also took the National Champion titles in the Centerfire and .45 ACP caliber 900s. He shot an 891-42X score for first place in Centerfire and 888-48X to finish first in the .45 event.
In second place for the National title hunt was Brian H. Zins of Girard, OH, a retired Marine and multiple National Champion, who racked up a combined score of 2641-127X. Zins finished third in the Centerfire 900 with a 889-48X score and second in the .45 stanza with a score of 883-44X. He also earned the High Civilian title in the National Championships.
The third place finisher for the National title was SFC Patrick W. Franks of Phenix City, AL, a member of the US Army Marksmanship unit. Franks finished right behind Zins with an aggregate of 2640-129X, earning the high National Service Championship. Franks finished second in the Centerfire portion of the match with a score of 889-48X.
Brothers in Arms
Sgt. Ryan Franks (right), of the US Army Marksmanship Unit, is new to the world of competitive shooting, but that didn’t stop him from becoming the overall winner of the prestigious President’s Pistol Match at the 2015 National Trophy Pistol Matches. The marksmanship skills appear to run in the family. Ryan is the brother of Patrick Franks who finished third in the NRA National Pistol Championships. During the awards ceremony, SFC Patrick Franks was given the honor of pinning Ryan with his new Distinguished Service Pistol Badge—earned at Camp Perry. To return the sentiment, Ryan pinned Patrick with his Distinguished .22 Rimfire Pistol Badge, which he earned at Camp Perry as well.
None of the top three national finishers placed in the .22 rimfire portion of the contest.
Not so the High Lady in the National Pistol Championship, Kimberly L. Hobart of New Philadelphia, OH, who was the top woman in all three portions of the national contest. Hobart fired a 859-20X score in the Rimfire stanza, an 863-20X in the Centerfire 900 and 871-34X in the .45 bullseye match. That gave her an aggregate of 2593-74X.
The other special honors in the National Championship went to competitors with mixed backgrounds, some military veterans, some veteran pistoleers, and some on their way up.. They were:
Senior Champion was James R. Lenardson of Toledo, OH, who shot a combined 2631-108X
Grand Senior was John L. Rochon of Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada, who posted a 2539-66X.
The Collegiate Champion was Brian Hughes of Glens Falls, NY, who shot a score of 2473-66X.
Junior Champion was Glenn A. Zimmerman of Waterville, OH, with a 2558-82X score.
The National Guard member with the highest score in the 2700 event was S/Sgt. Timothy M. Barber of the US Army National Guard from Cottondale, FL, who fired a 2596-79X.
The Regular Air Force Champion was S/Sgt. Jeremiah A. Jackson of Valdosta, GA, shooting a score of 2610 – 112X.
And the Police Champion was Shane M. Murphy of New Hartford, CT, who shot a combined score of 2614-107X.
As this issue of TGM went to press the National Smallbore Rifle Championships were beginning to be followed by a series of High Power rifle and Long Range competitions. They’re are all part of the annual National Shooting Championships conducted under the combined auspices of the National Rifle Association, Civilian Marksmanship Program and the Ohio National Guard.
