Dianna Clark Becomes First WBT Angler of the Year

KIMBERLING CITY, Mo. — Celebrating a dominating performance in the 2006 season of the Mercury Marine Women’s Bassmaster Tour presented by Triton Boats, Dianna Clark of Bumpus Mills., Tenn., walked away from the fifth and final event as the inaugural Toyota Women’s Bassmaster Tour Angler of the Year.

Clark, who broke new ground by winning two of the Tour’s events and placed in the top 10 in one more, sealed her accomplishment – by just three points - with a fifth-place showing this week at the Bull Shoals tournament in Missouri.

“I am very humbled by the award,” she said. “When I realized what I had done, it hit me so hard it took my breath away. I can’t ever remember feeling like that it my life.”

Clark, 42, opened the season by placing 32nd on Neely Henry Lake in Alabama. She won the second event on Lewisville Lake in Texas and placed seventh in the third event on Lake Norman in North Carolina. She won again – this time on Lake Dardanelle in Arkansas – at the fourth event. She ended the season with 1,393 points.

“I feel pretty good about winning the tournament on Dardanelle, and the excitement really took my breath away,“ said Clark. “It was something I never experienced in my life – leading an event all three days.”

The Women’s Bassmaster Tour Angler of the Year title rewards the season’s most consistent angler and includes a new, completely redesigned 2007 Toyota Tundra Double Cab Pickup Truck.

“It’s hard to put in words, but it’s a great accomplishment,” said Clark. “To win Angler of the Year, that’s the top of the world right there. Once you’ve got it no one can take it away.”

In addition to competing for the Toyota Women’s Bassmaster Tour Angler of the Year title, WBT anglers were in hot pursuit of qualifying for the inaugural Women’s Bassmaster Tour Championship, Feb. 22-25, 2007, on Lake Mitchell in Alabama. Only the top 12 pros and 12 co-anglers in the points standings were invited to compete in this showdown that takes place during CITGO Bassmaster Classic week.

Angler who qualified in the championship include Clark, ESPY winner Tammy Richardson of Amity, Ark., who finished second in the points with 1,390; Lucy Mize of Ben Lomond, Ark., Tammy Muse of North Little Rock, Ark.; Sheri Glasgow of Muskogee, Okla.; Emily Shaffer of Mount Juliet, Tenn.; Cindy Hill of Smyrna, Tenn.; Lisa Sternard of Clarksville, Tenn.; Juanita Robinson of Highlands, Texas,; Robin Babb of Livingston, Texas; Lisa Sands of Cullman, Ala.; and Pam Martin-Wells of Bainbridge, Ga.

“It’s an honor to be part of the WBT and one of the top 12 to make it to the first championship,” said Muse, 46. “I think it’s going to be awesome. I’ve always set my goals pretty high and I’m going to set my standards high at this event. I would like to be the first woman to win it and think I have a pretty good chance.”

On the co-angler side, Bonnie Ward of Snohomish, Wash., leads the charge with 1,184 points followed by Mary Croft of Bedford, Va.; Keri Schieber of Cumming, Ga.; Kim Stapp of Ringgold, Ga.; Heather Sullivan of Montevallo, Ala.; Lila Bass of Austin, Texas; Sharon Rushton of Kimberling City, Mo.; Tammie Ply of Harrison, Ark.; Angie Everitt of Livingston, Texas; Summer Stephens of Flintstone, Ga.; Colleen McKay of Worcester, Mass.; and Karen Williams of Stark City, Mo.
 

From BASS