Around the World with Apex Optics: A 2025 Precision Rifle Series Wrap-Up
The Precision Rifle Series (PRS) is more than a competition – it’s a global community driven by discipline, resilience, and the pursuit of excellence. As the 2025 PRS season came to a close, Team Apex athletes lined up at finales across North America, South Africa, Australia, and the United Kingdom, delivering standout performances in some of the most demanding conditions of the year.
From brutal winds to high-pressure final stages, these shooters proved what’s possible when preparation, mindset, and world-class optics come together. Here’s how the season unfolded – straight from the athletes themselves.
South Africa: Donovan Cook’s Comeback of the Year
At the PRS South Africa Finale on November 7–8 at Hippo Creek Shooting Centre, the conditions were calm, but for Team Apex shooter Donovan Cook, the pressure was anything but.
“I came in as the favourite for the Golden Bullet. It really tested my ability to manage pressure and perform when it mattered most.”
Donovan’s match took a dramatic turn early. A trigger malfunction caused an accidental discharge, resulting in an automatic Stage 1 DQ and zero points. Instead of unraveling, Donovan responded with one of the strongest comebacks of the season – cleaning six of the next seven stages and dropping just three shots on the final stage.
“That comeback defined my match.”
Consistency Wins Championships
Donovan’s 2025 season was built on relentless preparation:
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Nearly every weekend training
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Dry fire sessions up to three times a day
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Top-two finishes at almost every match
Running the Apex Rival X 4-32×56, Summit ED Pro 12×50 binoculars, and Atom 1×28 red dot, Donovan credited his gear for delivering confidence and precision all year. He closed the season with gratitude for his family, Team Apex, and teammate Devan- “future limited world champ.”
UNITED KINGDOM
Sam Steward Takes on the Wind at PRS UK Finale
At the PRS UK Centrefire Finale, Team Apex’s Sam Steward faced relentless conditions.
“The weather was awful – 30+ mph winds all weekend.”
From First Match to Top Contender
Two years ago, this same match marked Sam’s first PRS competition, finishing 34th with little experience. In 2025, he returned to place 4th overall, just three impacts off the podium.
"It just shows what dedication. and passion can achieve."
Gear That Held Strong
Sam ran an Apex Rival with Summit ED PRO2 15×56 binoculars on an Apex Spire. Even when the wind knocked over his tripod—snapping both binoculars off the tac plate – his equipment endured.
A Breakthrough Season
Sam credits his best season yet to discipline and training, especially on days when motivation was low. He also thanked Apex Optics and his partners for helping make the journey possible.
NORTH AMERICA
Kris Haughian’s Most Consistent Season Yet
For Kris Haughian, results told the story. Competing across the PRS Pro Series, Foothills Regional Series, and NRL Hunter, 2025 marked his strongest year to date.
PRS Pro Series Highlights
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3rd and 8th place finishes
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Three additional top-15 results
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Lowest non-finale finish inside the top 30
That consistency earned Kris a Black Bullet and a cheque for Top Amateur, achieving the goal he set at the start of the season – and moving him into Professional Classification for 2026.
Regional and NRL Success
In the Foothills Regional Series, Kris finished 3rd overall, with:
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1 Overall Win
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2nd Place
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Two Additional Top-10 Finishes
Despite only three NRL Hunter matches, he secured 2nd Team, 3rd Team, and 12th Open Heavy finishes.
Built on Support
Kris credits his wife Karla and son Lucas for making the demanding schedule possible, along with the partners who backed his season.
AUSTRALIA
David Foster Wins the PRS Rimfire Australian Finale
The PRS Rimfire Australian Finale at Monarto, South Australia tested David Foster from the moment he arrived.
Friday brought 20 mph gusting, switching winds, making zeroing nearly impossible. Conditions improved through the weekend, setting up a decisive finish.
The Championship Moment
The final stage, the hardest of the match, came down to seven required impacts to secure the win.
“Watching the seventh shot hit the target—that’s when everything became real.”
Gear and Mindset
David ran the Apex Rival X and Summit PRO2 binoculars, which performed flawlessly all season. He credits his success to lessons learned the year before, when falling short fueled his determination to win in 2025.
Winning the series as an Apex team shooter, using an Apex scope, in a series sponsored by Apex made the victory even more meaningful.
SOUTH AFRICA
Patrick Capes’s Season of Growth
Also competing at the South Africa National Finale, Patrick Capes faced challenging natural terrain, unstable shooting positions, and constantly shifting winds.
“Problem solve upon problem solve – it was a world-class match I’ll never forget.”
A Meaningful Milestone
For Patrick, reaching the finale represented the payoff of a full season of discipline and commitment, competing alongside the country’s best shooters.
Equipment That Delivered
Patrick ran the Apex Rival 4-32×56 Riflescope on an MPA Matrix Pro II PMR (6mm BR Norma).
“From clarity to tracking to low-light performance, the Rival delivered flawlessly.”
No zero shifts. No surprises. Just confidence.
Keys to Success
Patrick focused on consistency, fundamentals, mental management, and frequent competition – staying calm, present, and intentional throughout the season.
He extends thanks to Apex Optics, Venatics Gear, mentor Pieter Neethling, sponsors, family, and match staff.
One Global Team. One Standard of Precision.
From calm skies in South Africa to extreme winds in the UK, from Australian rimfire finales to North American PRO-level competition, Team Apex athletes proved one thing in 2025:
Precision is an enduring commitment.
We’re proud of every shooter who represented Apex Optics worldwide. Their dedication drives us to continue building optics designed for real-world performance and podium results.
Here’s to an incredible 2025, and an even bigger 2026 PRS season!
