The Bartholow Brothers — Matt & Foster — Trapshooting Phenoms

The Bartholow Brothers — Matt & Foster — Trapshooting Phenoms

Making the Dream Happen

Making the Dream Happen

In addition to being brothers, Foster and Matt Bartholow have a few big things in common — their continually growing lists of achievements in the clay target sports for starters. Consistency is what they are known for — evidenced by the hundreds of trophies won over the past decade of shooting. Some of their most notable accomplishments have been at the annual Grand American World Trapshooting Championships. The bottom line, no Browning-sponsored trapshooters have achieved more in our history. 

Matt and Foster Bartholow with Trap Shotguns
Matt and Foster Bartholow with Trap Shotguns
More From the Bartholow Brothers

Foster's Personal Accomplishments

  • Foster lands in 14th place on the ATA High Average Doubles list with a .9754.
  • Foster's doubles average placed him #2 in the ATA for the 2020 shooting year.
  • Foster won the Super 500 Doubles event in 2020 at the Grand American.
  • Foster placed 2nd in the Singles Clay Target Championship at the 2020 Grand American.
  • Foster’s 16-yard singles average is .9947 for the 2019 shooting year.
  • Foster won the 2011 Preliminary Handicap Championship with the lone 100x100 from the 27-yard line.
  • In 2008, Foster was named Co-Champion along with Leo Harrison, III for the Clay Target Championship, after a total of 1,100 targets straight (200 in the CTC program and another 900 in the tie-breaking shoot-off). This was the first time in the history of the Grand that they named co-champs in a championship event. Their record for the longest shoot-off in the history of the ATA still stands.
  • Foster won the Winchester Super 500 Singles at the Grand in 2008 and 2009.
  • Foster was the 2004 Grand Clay Target Champion Jr. Runner-Up.

Matt's Personal Accomplishments

  • Matt has the high Doubles average in the ATA with an average of .9882. This is the 4th year in a row that he has won the award, and the sixth time he has won in 8 years.
  • Matt won the 2600 HOA in 2019 with a 2553/2600. He won the 2600 in 2017 with 2556/2600. He won runner up in the 2600 in 2012 with 2525.
  • Matt was named “Mr. August” by Trap & Field magazine this year for his great showing at the Grand in 2019. This is the second time that Matt has been recognized, as he held the honor in 2013 as well.
  • Matt also carries the high Handicap average with a .9647 for 2019.
  • Matt’s Single Average is .9907 for the 2019 shooting year.
  • Matt won the Super 500 Doubles in 2008 (Jr. Champ), 2009, 2012, 2013, 2018 and 2019. He took runner-up in 2015 and 2016.
  • Matt won the Super 500 Handicap in 2017.
  • Matt has the second-longest run in registered doubles with 910 broken doubles targets in 2017 and 2018. He also holds the record for the second-longest run in singles with 1,840 consecutive registered targets broken.
  • Matt won the Winchester Super 500 Singles in 2013.
  • Matt was the 2013 Clay Target Championship Runner-Up and was the Sub Jr. Clay Target Champ in 2005.
  • Matt was the 2011 Grand Doubles Champion. He also won the 2008 Grand Doubles Championship in the Jr. category.

The Bartholow Brothers and Browning Win Big at the 2021 Grand American

The Bartholow Brothers and Browning Win Big at the 2021 Grand American

Browning Pro Staff shooters Foster and Matt Bartholow brought home a number of awards from the 2021 Amateur Trapshooting Association (ATA) Grand American Trap Shoot recently held in Sparta, IL. The Grand American is the preeminent trapshooting event in the world, drawing shooters from around the globe to compete.

Some awards of special note. Matt won World Champion in the coveted ATA World Doubles Championship in a high-pressure shoot-out, runner-up in three events, as well as third place in five events.

Foster also had a number of fine showings, including a third place finish just behind Matt in the ATA World Doubles Championship.

The brothers also took a victory in the National Team Race as members of Team SD.

Gentlemen, congratulations on a very successful 2021 ATA Grand American. Your skill, dedication and successes make you the ideal ambassadors for both the Browning brand and the shooting sports.

Foster Bartholow at the 2020 Grand American World Trapshooting Championships

Foster Bartholow at the 2020 Grand American World Trapshooting Championships

Foster's 2020 Grand Performance

  • Little Egypt Golf Car Doubles – Event 3 – Event Champion – 100x100
  • Precision Fit Stocks Doubles – Event 6 – Event Champion – 100x100​
  • Kolar Doubles – Event 9 – AAA Champion – 99x100
  • NRA Singles – Event 10 – AAA 3rd place – 100x100
  • Krieghoff 100 Handicap – Event 11 – Event 4th – 99x100
  • Rio Ammo Doubles – Event 12 – AAA Runner-Up – 99x100
  • Dawson Enterprises Doubles – Event 14 – Event Runner-Up – 100x100
  • ATA World Clay Target Championship – Event 21 – Event Runner-Up – 200x200
  • EZ Go HAA Preliminary – Event Champion – 299x300
  • Negrini Preliminary HOA 900 – AAA Runner-Up – 877x900
  • ​QMaxx Super 500 Doubles – Event Champion – 498x500
  • White Flyer HOA 1400 Targets – AAA Champion – 1363x1400
  • National Team Race – Champions Team SD – 292x300 (Foster)

Stacks of Trophies From the 2019 Grand American

Stacks of Trophies From the 2019 Grand American

At the top at 2019 Grand American. Matt and Foster Bartholow once again perform outstandingly on the trap field. Click the link below for a lengthy list of all the awards these two phenomenal shooters brought home from the 2019 Grand American World Trapshooting Championships. 

Some awards of special note. Matt was the 2600 High Over All Champion by breaking 2,553 out of 2,600 targets for the entire event. Foster was Champion in the Handicap Event #16, shooting way back at the 27-yard line and in the Winchester Super 500, he shot 499/500 singles to earn class AAA Runner-Up. 

Well done guys, and congratulations!

Foster and Matt Win Big at the 2018 Grand American World Trapshooting Championships. More Trophies, Most Shots Fired, More Top Finishes, Period.

Foster and Matt Win Big at the 2018 Grand American World Trapshooting Championships. More Trophies, Most Shots Fired, More Top Finishes, Period.

Matt Bartholow (left), Foster Bartholow (right) — 2018 GRAND AMERICAN. The Bartholow Brothers have been at the Grand doing their thing. And once again, neither Matt nor Foster Bartholow let many targets hit the ground. 

Matt took 2nd and Foster took 3rd in the White Flyer 2600 Target High-Over-All. That’s all registered targets thrown in the preliminary and championship weeks of the Grand, combined.

Matt took 2nd and Foster took 3rd in the White Flyer 2600 Target High-Over-All. That’s all registered targets thrown in the preliminary and championship weeks of the Grand, combined.

These Guys Can Really Shoot

These Guys Can Really Shoot

The Bartholow Brothers, Foster and Matt, are two of the top trapshooting celebrities in America. Both have significant accomplishments under their belts at state and regional shoots, all the way up to the Grand American World Trapshooting Championships.

They are not just competitive trapshooters, Matt and Foster live the outdoor lifestyle; they are hunters as well as shooters.

Both know how to get the job done under extreme pressure. Get a few tips from them in one of our videos. 

Matt and Foster posing with dozens of trophies
Matt and Foster posing with dozens of trophies

The Bartholow Brothers stack up the trophies at the 2017 Grand American World Trapshooting Championships.

The Bartholow Brothers stack up the trophies at the 2017 Grand American World Trapshooting Championships.

Matt Bartholow Broke More Birds at the 2017 Grand Than Any Other Shooter. Winner of the Radians HOA 2600 Targets Championship – Event Champion- 2556x2600.

Matt Bartholow Broke More Birds at the 2017 Grand Than Any Other Shooter. Winner of the Radians HOA 2600 Targets Championship – Event Champion- 2556x2600.

  • Trap & Field Handicap – Event 2 – Matt – Event 4th – 97x100
  • Little Egypt Golf Cars Doubles – Event 3 – Matt – Event Runner-Up – 100x100
  • MEC Shooting Sports Singles – Event 4 – Foster – Event 3rd – 100x100
  • Zoli International Doubles – Event 6 – Matt – AAA Champion – 99x100
  • Sterling Cut Glass Singles – Event 7 – Foster – Event 3rd – 100x100
  • Gipson-Ricketts Handicap – Event 8 – Matt – Event 3rd – 98x100
  • Kolar Doubles – Event 9 – Matt – Event 3rd – 99x100
  • NRA Singles – Event 10 – Matt – AAA Champion – 200x200
  • Krieghoff 100 Handicap – Event 11 – Matt – Event 4th – 98x100
  • Rio Ammo Doubles – Event 12 – Matt – Event Champion – 100x100
  • Blaser Handicap – Event 13 – Matt – 27-yard Runner-Up – 97x100
  • Wenig Doubles – Event 14 – Matt – AAA Champion – 100x100
  • Gun & Trophy Insurance Preliminary – HOA 1000 Targets – Matt – Event Champion – 986x1000
  • White Flyer – HOA 1500 Targets – Matt – Event Champion – 1480x1500
  • EZ Go – HAA Preliminary Week – Matt – Event Champion – 398x400
  • Winchester – Super 500 Singles – Foster – AAA Runner-Up – 498x500
  • Millennium Luxury Coaches – Super 500 Handicap – Matt – Event Champion – 485x500
  • Gun & Trophy Insurance – Super 500 Doubles – Matt- Event Champion- 498x500
  • National Team Race – Team SD – Event Champions – Matt 296x300, Foster 286x300
  • Sibling Race (Brother/Brother) – Foster and Matt – Champions – 200x200 each (400x400)
  • Kubota Doubles – Event 20 – Matt – AAA Runner-Up – 100x100
  • Remington Grand American Handicap –Event 24 – Matt – Event 3rd – 96x100
  • Blue/Gray Shootout Championship – Matt – Blue (North) Team Champion – 23x25
  • State Team Race – SD Team Runner-Up – Matt 199x200, Foster 200x200
  • ATA HOA by Prize Possessions – 1000 Grand Week – Matt – AAA Runner-Up – 976x1000
  • Radians – HOA 2600 Targets Championship – Matt – Event Champion – 2556x2600

The Early Years

The Early Years

Matt Bartholow posing and smiling
Matt Bartholow posing and smiling

Matt Bartholow

Matt Bartholow aiming Citori shotgun
Matt Bartholow aiming Citori shotgun
Foster Bartholow posing and smiling
Foster Bartholow posing and smiling

Foster Bartholow

Foster Bartholow aiming Citori shotgun
Foster Bartholow aiming Citori shotgun

"Both of us are convinced that Browning makes the best shotguns in the world! Shooting shotguns is our life and our passion. Shooting Browning shotguns keeps us focused on always staying at the top of our game and never giving up."

"Both of us are convinced that Browning makes the best shotguns in the world! Shooting shotguns is our life and our passion. Shooting Browning shotguns keeps us focused on always staying at the top of our game and never giving up."

Matt Bartholow standing on trap line shooting shotgun
Matt Bartholow standing on trap line shooting shotgun
Matt and Foster posing wearing Browning Hats
Matt and Foster posing wearing Browning Hats
Matt and Foster showing off trophy rings
Matt and Foster showing off trophy rings
Matt and Fosters trophy rings on table
Matt and Fosters trophy rings on table
Arial image of the Spring Grand
Arial image of the Spring Grand

One of the places the Bartholow Brothers have made history more than a few times. 

Arial image of the Grand at Sparta
Arial image of the Grand at Sparta

The Grand American World Trapshooting Championships at the World Shooting & Recreational Complex in Sparta, Illinois.

Matt and Foster posing in front of Browning trailer with shotguns
Matt and Foster posing in front of Browning trailer with shotguns
Foster shooting A-5 semi-auto shotgun at Shot Show range day
Foster shooting A-5 semi-auto shotgun at Shot Show range day
Foster Bartholow aiming Citori over under shotgun
Foster Bartholow aiming Citori over under shotgun