(OWENTON, Ky.)— More than 1,000 sporting clays’ enthusiasts from every state, including the sport’s leading medalists, are competing this week at Elk Creek Hunt Club, Owenton, Ky., in the National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA) US Open.

2009 US Open participants include reigning National Men’s Champion and World Runner-Up Anthony Matarese Jr.; two-time National Women’s Champion Diane Sorantino and teen David Radulovich whom the Cleveland Plain-Dealer labeled “a prodigy, the Tiger Woods of sporting clays” in a December 2008 article.

The Elk Creek-hosted US Open presents FITASC, 5-Stand and small-gauge side games in conjunction with the 200-target Main Event.

Additionally, the annual Boomer Esiason Foundation charity fundraiser, known as the All-American Sporting Clays Championship and World FITASC Challenge, will be held concurrently. Preliminary rounds began Tuesday, June 23, 2009, at 8:30 a.m.; the anticipated Main Event will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 26-28, 2009.

The region’s top competitors are also among registrants; they include:
Wendall Cherry—Red Boiling Springs, Tenn. (near Nashville)
Mark Hall—Lexington, KY
Ashlee Hafley—Kokomo, IN
Tina Jewell—Calhoun, KY (near Owensboro)
Hub Johnson—Lexington, KY
Jon Kruger—Seven-time US Open Champion—Manchester, IN (SW of Indianapolis)
George Quigley Jr.—Gold medal Olympic marksman—Cincinnati, OH

Elk Creek is located within one hour’s drive from Cincinnati, Lexington and Louisville and is adjacent to Elk Creek Vineyards, Kentucky’s largest winery. For more information, visit www.elkcreekhuntclub.com