By John Rossiter

COVINGTON, GA – The South River Gun Club buzzed with activity from April 23-26, 2026, as it played host to the 103rd Georgia State Trap Shoot. The four-day event, which saw 207 entries for the High Over All marathon, was defined by elite competitive spirit, significant career milestones, and moving tributes to the trapshooting community's own.

The tournament opened on a solemn note with the Ethan Ledford Preliminary Singles, an event named for last year's singles champion but this year it was also held in remembrance of Ethan's father, Andrew Carey Ledford ("Andy"), a cherished friend of the Georgia trapshooting community who passed away in September 2025. In a fitting tribute, Rory Lee (GA) and Samuel L. Leiendecke (ND) both delivered perfect scores of 100 to claim the Resident and Non-Resident championships for the memorial event, respectively.

Community was at the heart of the weekend's festivities. During the annual Georgia Amateur Trapshooting Association meeting, it was officially announced that Bob Boswell has been named the 2026 inductee into the Georgia Trapshooting Hall of Fame. Boswell, a veteran competitor, showcased his enduring talent throughout the weekend, carding a 192 in the Singles Championship and a 99 in the Peach State Class Singles.

The event also served as the backdrop for several historic personal milestones. Dave Hollingsworth fired at his 75,000th career singles target during the competition, while Chet Hendrickson reached his 80,000th singles target. In an even rarer feat of longevity, Bill Parson, from Alabama, reached the incredible mark of shooting his 100,000th doubles target. 

Competition reached a fever pitch during the "Big Three" championship events:

• Georgia Singles Championship (Event 8): In a high-stakes showdown for the In-State title, Andrew J. Cortner and Junior shooter Codey Storey both carded near-perfect 199s. Cortner ultimately claimed the Resident Championship after a flawless 25-25 shoot-off, while Storey took the Junior title. Kentucky’s Herbert D. Lewis secured the Out-of-State Championship with his own 199.

• Georgia Doubles Championship (Event 9): Ethan C. Ledford displayed masterful precision to win the Resident Championship with a score of 96. The top overall score in the event came from Alabama’s Evan O'leary, who posted a perfect 100 to take the Non-Resident crown.

• Georgia Handicap Championship (Event 10): Ethan C. Ledford continued his dominant run, winning the Resident Championship with a 97 from the 27-yard line. The Out-of-State Championship went to Maryland’s John C. Kirksey, who bested the field with a 98.

By the close of the weekend, the overall winners were crowned based on their consistency across all disciplines. Ethan C. Ledford emerged as the undisputed star for the state of Georgia, sweeping both the In-State High All Around (HAA) with a 389/400 and the In-State High Over All (HOA) with a 967/1000.

On the out-of-state leaderboard, Herbert D. Lewis of Kentucky earned the HAA Championship with a score of 391. The Out-of-State HOA title was captured by Michael Dal Hathaway of Illinois, who finished the tournament with a total of 961/1000.

The 103rd installment of the Georgia State Trap Shoot successfully honored the legacy of its members while reinforcing its status as a premier event for marksmen across the nation.