NEWBERRY, Fla. – According to James Lutz, arrows 71 and 72 were the ‘hardest arrows’ he had ever shot as the leading U.S. archer beat a 10-year-old world record during qualification at the Easton Foundations Gator Cup.
The 28-year-old from Wisconsin scored 719 out of a possible 720 points on Saturday, one better than the previous world record, set by Braden Gellenthien at the USA Archery Target Nationals in July 2016.
“When I saw the weather for this morning, I was like, okay, there can be a good score shot,” said Lutz. “And I mean, Mike (Schloesser) shot a 716, Louis (Price) shot a 715; it was there today. It got a little breezy at the end, but I just stayed in control and got it done.”
As well as Lutz, Schloesser and Price, there were impressive scores from Kyle Douglas (714), Curtis Broadnax, Braden Gellenthien and Stephan Hansen (all 709). In all, 13 archers shot 700 or more in compound men.
Lutz was focused from his very first arrow, and felt a good score could be on from about the midway point. He was on course with his first 47 arrows, but then … “I got a little nervous in the eighth end, pushed one out the top, and then I just said just settle down and finish. My last two arrows were the hardest arrows I've ever shot, but I shook them in there.”
This marks the second year in a row that Gator Cup has witnessed a significant score. During the 2025 event, Schloesser (NED) equaled the previous world record of 718. He held the top score (717) prior to Gellenthien registering a new best. With the new mark now sitting at 719 (pending verification), it will need to take something even more special for this to be bettered.
“I mean, it's going to take the absolute perfect day to beat it now,” commented Lutz. “So hopefully I can have it as long as Braden had it, or longer, we'll see. Or maybe I can just set a 720!”
Despite the weather suggesting a high score, Lutz was not entirely feeling it during his three practice ends, just moments before qualification got underway.
“I missed three 10s in practice because I was playing with weights. I hadn't shot in the dead calm in over a year, you know, everywhere we go is windy. So, I had to play with weights a little bit and then, yeah, just everything was flowing.”
Lutz was receiving messages from friends and family within minutes of him setting the new world record. A record that has stood for a decade, held by a U.S. archer and now improved upon by a U.S. archer, which in itself is something to be intensely proud of, bearing in mind the global talent in the compound men’s division.
Lutz admitted, “It means a lot (to hold this record). I used to have the double 72 record and that got broken. And I mean, as these records just get higher and higher, it makes it a little bit more difficult to reach them.
“Really, I never expected to be the one to beat this record. I figured Mike (Schloesser) or Matthias (Fullerton) would at some point. And I mean, I'm sure somebody, however long – and it could be next week - shoots a 720, we'll see, but I'm going to try to be the first one to do that.”
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