Contributed Photo Matt Reeves performs recently during a Colgate Country Showdown competition at The Mill Casino-Hotel.

After winning a local competition in Las Vegas and a state competition in Arizona, an Arkansas man will represent the West in the national final of the Colgate Country Showdown.

Matt Reeves, 18, of Gravette, Ark., won the showdown’s western regional, held Saturday at The Mill Casino-Hotel in North Bend. More than 500 people attended the show, organizer Cathy Jensen said.

In his first year competing, the singer/songwriter beat the winners of Oregon and four other states. He performed two original songs, “The Ballad of Gypsy Rose” and “Long-haired, Hot-blooded, Redneck Honkytonk Cowboy.”

Lacey D of Arlington, Wash., represented Oregon in the regional, and Coos Bay native Dai Kelly competed as the bass player in Anthony Ryan and the Ridgecrest Wranglers, which represented California.

Judges were Larry McCabe of Music on the Bay, local musician Dale Inskeep, Les Engle of the Young Bucs, Vinnie Cavarra of Sound Environments Inc., Virginia MacCallum, who sings with Sea Breeze Harmony Chorus, and Warren Williamson. Contestants were judged on marketability, vocal/instrumental ability, stage presence and talent.

Reeves will compete closer to home for the $100,000 prize in the national, Jan. 15, 2009, in Nashville, Tenn.

The contest, a search for the best new act in country music, is organized by hundreds of radio stations across the country, including KSHORE and KJMX locally.