The Invictus Cup 2025: Clay Targets, Alien Invasions & A Shot at Glory

If sporting clays tournaments had a personality, the Invictus Cup would be the one shaking up the room—cool, confident, and a little unconventional. Held July 19–20 at Island Lake Shooting Range, the 2025 edition delivered on everything the Lieske Signature Series is fast becoming known for: big turnouts, fresh ideas, approachable competition, and a generous helping of fun.

Let’s get right to it: 245 shooters showed up, and more than 50 of them were first-timers who joined the NSCA on the spot thanks to the Series’ unique and approachable format and the NSCA’s free membership offer. That’s not just a win—it’s a wave. And with 122 entries in C Class and 31 in D, this wasn’t just a shoot for the elite. It was a full-on grassroots growth spurt for the sport.

With three of the four events in the 2025 series now complete, 248 new shooters have made their NSCA debut thanks to this format—many of them back for seconds and thirds. That’s not a fluke. That’s a culture shift, and it’s being driven by Pat and Drew Lieske’s vision to take the intimidation out of tournaments and replace it with something that feels more like a party with scorecards.

A First-Class Experience with Backyard Charm

From the moment you checked in, the Invictus Cup felt like something special. Early registrants scored slick performance tees with the event logo, plus swag bags stuffed with sponsor goods. Show up, shoot, smile—and walk away with a prize. That was the vibe. More than 100 shooters left the registration desk with gear ranging from Fiocchi shells to gun slips and hats.

Lunch both days? Handled. Chick-fil-A grilled sandwiches fueled the Saturday crowd, and Sunday brought club sandwiches from Grand Traverse Pie Company—served with chips, condiments, and zero pretension.

It all felt easy. Thoughtful. Polished—but never stuffy.

Two Courses, Two Vibes

What really sets this event apart is the course format. The Easy-80 and Elite-80 are two sides of the same coin—but they spin in very different directions.

The Easy-80? Pure joy. Think less “easy” and more “let’s make this fun as hell.” Ten themed stations gave shooters the kind of experience you don’t forget, including:

• Hare Force One had airborne rabbit clays with presidential flair.
• Barrelhouse Blues piped in live blues tracks while you took your shots.
• Double Dove Trouble brought motion decoys and mourning dove calls to life.
• Alien Invasion was the scene-stealer—complete with 6-foot green aliens and lime-green targets screaming across the sky.

Each station felt like a mini-movie set—and shooters ate it up.

Meanwhile, The Elite-80 reminded everyone that this was still a competition. Crafted by Pat Lieske himself, the layout featured elevated towers, deceptive angles, and just enough spice to keep even Master Class shooters doing double takes. It was sharp. Balanced. Beautifully brutal.

Side Games, Showdowns & Sweet Gear

Beyond the main event, Make-A-Break brought the thunder all weekend long. $700 in cash payouts each day and a constantly shifting target layout made for a frenetic, can’t-miss sideshow. Crowds were stacked from first pull to last.

Inside the clubhouse, Orion Outdoors Company hosted a pop-up gun gallery showcasing demo models from Caesar Guerini, Fabarm, and Syren. And if you shot clean on the Golden Ticket station? You earned a shot—literally—at winning a Glock handgun. Not a metaphor. A Glock.

Who Took the Crown?

Top honors went to Matthew Houtteman of Livonia, who broke 148 out of 160 across the Easy and Elite courses and pocketed a $750 payout. The full leaderboard was stacked with Michigan’s finest:

Master Class: Steve Nemeth (1st), Matt Vianello (2nd), Stephen Steele (3rd)

AA Class: Bill Stone (1st), Arthur Visser (2nd), Jonathan Vergara (3rd)

A Class: Brian Wheat (1st), Jason Souyias (2nd), Naim Faraj (3rd)

B Class: Mohammad Sobh (1st), Donald Petroff (2nd), Abe Koumaiha (3rd)

C Class: Abbas Hachem (1st), John Affeldt (2nd), Steve Uhlenbrock (3rd)

D Class: David Visser (1st), Caleb Aiken (2nd), Shannon Watts (3rd)

Prize drawings were another layer of awesome. Naim Faraj took home the Golden Ticket Grand Prize—a Glock 26 Gen 5 pistol. And Stephen Steele won the coveted Fabarm L4S Hunter shotgun, worth $1,675, just for placing in his class.

All Eyes on Bald Mountain

The final stop on the Lieske Signature Series lands at Bald Mountain Shooting Range on August 23–24, and the bar is high. Early birds (register by August 9) get t-shirts, lunch, prize eligibility, and the warm, fuzzy feeling of not procrastinating.

And if you’re one of the first 50 first-time NSCA shooters to sign up? You get free NSCA membership plus four boxes of shells just for jumping in.

Pat and Drew say there are fresh themes coming for the Finale—and given what we’ve seen so far, we’re inclined to believe they’ve got a few wild tricks up their sleeves.

Not Just a Series. A Movement.

Thanks to the support of Caesar Guerini, Fiocchi Ammunition, and White Flyer, the Lieske Signature Series is more than just another tournament—it’s changing the way people experience sporting clays.

It’s bold. It’s welcoming. And it’s growing the game the way it should be grown: one laugh, one good target, and one awesome weekend at a time.

Stay tuned—2026 is already in the works.