Top Guns Take Their Best Shots for Hoag : Trabuco Canyon Skeet Shoot Raises $25,000 for Cancer Center

It wasn’t a day for amateurs. The sixth annual Invitational Stag Shoot staged in Trabuco Canyon by 552 Club, a support group for Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, saw 160 participants sighting their clay pigeons with keen, competitive eyes.

“Some of these guys have been practicing all year for this,” said Bruce Lawrence, aiming his shotgun to shatter two clay pigeons. “It’s getting to be highly competitive.”

The June 10 event raised $25,000 toward the Hoag Cancer Center Campaign of $21 million. Hoag 552 Club has pledged $1 million toward the center, due to open the spring of 1989.

Dan Carlisle, 1982 World Skeet Champion and a 1984 Olympics Bronze Medal winner, said the shoot was one of the most organized matches he’d ever seen.

Andy Carey and Dr. David Martyn, event co-chairmen, founded the shoot in 1981. “That first year, we invited 100 skeet shoot enthusiasts and raised $10,000,” Carey said.

By last year, the shoots had raised $94,000. “This one will put us well over the $100,000 mark--pretty good for a six-year period,” he said. Observing the marksmanship was Jim Glabman, 552 Club president. “This shoot has enjoyed tremendous success. We’re proud of what these men have contributed.”

Glabman said 552 Club’s recent membership drive had added 600 members, giving the club a 3,600 membership.

The top gun at the shoot was Gary Dittman of Fountain Valley. Dittman was awarded a silver belt buckle, as were teammates Jim Anderson of Newport Beach, Alan Phillips of South Laguna, Mike Weatherby of Laguna Niguel and Barry Williams of Fountain Valley.

Second-place team members were Willis Hamilton of Santa Ana, Rae Price of Newport Beach, Ray Wenzel of Westminster, Duane Rae of Visalia and Rick Ehrke of Mission Viejo.

Benefit organizers were Ralph Berke, Dr. John Connole, Robert Contant, Dell DeRevere, John Fielder and Dr. Richard Foxx.

Also serving on the committee were Ed Griffin, Doug McCrea, Bob McDaniel, Wayne Murdock, Ray Olmscheid, Don Renner, Judge Calvin Schmidt, Dennis Snell, Darrell Starnes, Dr. Les Starnes, Ron Tomsic, Peter Usgaard, Dr. Gerald Wilks and Roman Yanez.