Schloesser shoots perfect 600-point qualification to take top seed at Macau Open

Mike Schloesser lived up to his ’Mister Perfect’ nickname at the Macau Open, shooting a clean 600-point 60-arrow 18-metre ranking round to take the compound men’s top seed at the first event of the 2020 Indoor Archery World Series.

“I’m super happy with it and, to be honest, to do it at the beginning of the year is even better. It feels good,” said Mike. “After such a long outdoor season and a good break, I’m really ready to compete indoors again.”

Schloesser and 2019 Indoor Archery World Series Champion Kris Schaff were both clean through 33 arrows.

But Schaff dropped in the 12th end – and then again in the 15th to finish two down for the round.

Mike, who won the Hyundai Archery World Cup Final just two months ago, stayed clean. Having won the first Macau Open a year ago – he’s off to a good start at the second.

“When you’ve won the previous edition of a competition, you always come back with the hunger to defend that title,” he said.

Reo Wilde, Alexander Dambaev and Dave Cousins seeded third to fifth in the compound men’s division, scoring 596, 595 and 594, respectively.

Korean archers Ha Siyeon and Ko Dusol ranked top in the recurve events.

Siyeon, from the Busan Metropolitan Corporation professional squad, scored 585 to lead teammates Park Seon Jin and Park Miran in the recurve women’s ranking.

Ulsan Namgu’s Dusol shot 592 points. His teammates Lee Jongyoung and Park Sunwoo seeded second and third on 590 and 589. 

Australian archer Dave Barnes also had 589, good for fourth.

Sarah Prieels won the anticipated three-way fight for the top seed in the compound women’s event. She had 589, ahead of world number one Alexis Ruiz on 586 and Paige Pearce with 584 points.

Ruiz won the Macau Open in 2018.

The first round of eliminations took place immediately after qualification.

Competition continues on Sunday 10 November with the remainder of the brackets resolved in the morning and finals in the afternoon.

The first event of the 2020 Indoor Archery World Series is the Macau Open on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 November 2019.