Kris Schaff, James Lutz set-up all-USA compound men’s final in Antalya

Kris Schaff beat world number one Mike Schloesser in a semifinal shoot-off to set-up an all-USA compound men’s final against James Lutz at the third stage of the 2019 Hyundai Archery World Cup in Antalya, Turkey.

“I’ve been struggling a little bit getting the bow exactly how I wanted it at home. Well, it shoots good at home, then as soon as I get to a match or tournament the pressure gets to me and something isn’t clicking,” said Schaff.

The reigning Hyundai Archery World Cup Champion revealed he was shooting with a bow that top-seeded Mike had given him a couple of weeks ago.

“He’s a good friend. I hate shooting against him all the time because one of us has to win and one of us has to lose,” Kris added.

Lutz is making his international debut in Antalya ahead of the 2019 Hyundai World Archery Championships, where he will join Schaff and Braden Gellenthien on the US team.

“I was nervous but I got it done. I’m competing in the United States with some of the best guys in the world. This is a bigger stage but the competition is there at home and that’s good practice,” said James, who has a familiar domestic opponent for his first international final.

“There’ll probably be some good trash talk going on but it’ll be fun. I’ve just gotta take it one arrow at a time and see if I can get there.”

Lutz beat Domagoj Buden, Abhishek Verma, Sergio Pagni and Daniel Munoz in matchplay after qualifying seventh.

Schloesser and Gellenthien are already qualified for the Moscow 2019 Hyundai Archery World Cup Final; either Schaff or Lutz will join them.

The US also has a compound women’s finalist – Alexis Ruiz – and another in the recurve men’s event.

Brady Ellison made his third consecutive medal match on the international circuit. He already won the first event in Medellin and finished third at the second leg in Shanghai – and will leave Antalya with at least silver.

“I’m happy to be in this match and I felt like I shot good enough to get there today,” said Brady. “All the work is paying off. I’m starting to shoot good and the biggest difference is that when I’m getting nervous I’m still able to control my shot and that’s been missing for a long time.”

The four-time Hyundai Archery World Cup Champion is already qualified for this year’s season-ending event, along with Korean world number one Lee Woo Seok.

“Now it’s just going there and having fun. The first one you’re really trying to win it to get in the final – this one you’re just trying to win it for you,” added Ellison.

He faces world number two Steve Wijler in the final.

After a disappointing start to the year – one match win and two losses over two tournaments – Wijler shot a personal best of 682 points over the ranking round in Antalya. The Dutch archer also upset home favourite and top seed Mete Gazoz in the semifinals.

“My main event this year is the world championships. To be honest, that’s my only focus this year,” said Steve. “I just want to shoot a good match and get a good preparation for the worlds.”

Ellison won yet another match again Wijler’s Dutch teammate Sjef van den Berg in the quarterfinals. In Medellin, Brady beat Sjef in the semifinals; in Shanghai, it was the bronze medal match – and here in Antalya, it was after a tiebreak in the quarterfinals.

The pair have now faced each other five times in international competition and Brady has won all five of those matches.

Gazoz and Mauro Nespoli feature in the recurve men’s third-place final; Schloesser and Munoz in the compound men’s bronze medal match.

The third stage of the 2019 Hyundai Archery World Cup takes place on 20-26 May in Antalya, Turkey.