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FLW Tour: Potomac River, MD

Tour Event # 6 of 6

Preview | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4

Preview: FLW Tour to Visit Potomac River

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LAPLATA, Md. – The $7.6 million Wal-Mart FLW Tour will stop in Charles County June 22-25 for the inaugural Chevy Open presented by Kellogg’s. Hosted by the Charles County Office of Tourism, the $1.25 million tournament features 400 anglers from the United States, Mexico, Japan and Australia, with 200 of the world’s best bass pros fishing for a top award of $200,000 cash. Two hundred co-anglers will also compete for a top award of $40,000 cash.
In recent decades, the water quality of the lower Potomac River has improved to create one of the best largemouth fisheries in the nation. Bass in the 3- to 4-pound range are common. The river system is full of grass, rocks, wood and docks, and anglers should be able to use a variety of techniques to catch solid limits. Anglers will likely fish from Washington, D.C., downstream to where the river empties into the Chesapeake Bay.
“Fish will be everywhere, and it should be very interesting,” said Kellogg’s pro Dave Lefebre of Erie, Pa. “Everything in the tackle box will work. Most anglers will probably target grass beds with spinnerbaits and shallow-running crankbaits. There will be a lot of good fish caught. I think it will take 13 or 14 pounds per day to make the cut and more than 30 pounds to win.”
The Chevy Open is the final regular-season event of the FLW Tour season, and valuable points are on the line. The top 48 pros and top 48 co-anglers qualify for the no-entry-fee $1.5 million Forrest L. Wood Championship presented by Castrol on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Ark., July 13-16. The prestigious Land O’Lakes Angler of the Year title is also still up for grabs, with 7 UP pro J.T. Kenney of Frostburg currently leading the race by a mere two points over Anthony Gagliardi of Prosperity, S.C. Several other pros are also within striking range.
Anglers take off each morning from Smallwood State Park in Marbury at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday’s weigh-ins will also be held at the park beginning at 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday’s weigh-ins will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 40 Drury Drive in LaPlata beginning at 5 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.
The community is invited to attend the free Family Fun Zone Friday and Saturday outside the weigh-in tent in the Wal-Mart parking lot. The Family Fun Zone, which opens at 3 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday, features interactive displays, product samples and games for the entire family to enjoy. Monte Burke, author of “Sowbelly, the Obsessive Quest for the World Record Largemouth Bass,” will also be in the Fun Zone autographing copies of his new book.
The full field competes in the two-day opening round for one of 10 slots in Friday’s competition based on their two-day accumulated weight. Weights are cleared for day three, and co-angler competition concludes following Friday’s weigh-in. The top 10 pros continue competition Saturday, with the winner determined by the heaviest two-day weight.
Several FLW Tour pros that do not make the final-round cut will still spend quality time on the water Friday, as they have volunteered to take wounded service men and women from Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center out for a day of fishing on the Potomac River.
“It’s a small way for us to give something back to those men and women who serve our country so courageously,” said Charlie Evans, FLW Outdoors president and CEO. “These soldiers and all the men and women serving our country make the freedoms we enjoy possible.”
Forty service men and women who have been wounded in the line of duty will meet FLW Tour pros at the Smallwood State Park launch ramp Friday, June 24 at 9 a.m. for several hours of fishing. The service men and women will then be honored guests at the day’s 5 p.m. weigh-in at the LaPlata Wal-Mart. The outing was arranged through the USO of Metropolitan Washington.
In FLW Tour competition, pros and co-anglers are randomly paired each day, with pros supplying the boat, controlling boat movement and competing against other pros. Co-anglers fish from the back deck against other co-anglers.
This is the most lucrative FLW Tour season to date, as the popular tournament series celebrates its 10th anniversary with a $7.6 million purse, including four $900,000 events and two $1.25 million open events during the regular season. The prestigious $1.5 million Forrest L. Wood Championship features bass fishing’s largest guaranteed cash award – a $500,000 first-place prize for the winning pro. Held in conjunction with the championship is a world-class outdoor show featuring 140 booths and displays for everything from crankbaits to bass boats.
Coverage of the Chevy Open presented by Kellogg’s will be broadcast to 82 million FSN subscribers as part of the “Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors” television program July 24 and 31. “Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors” airs Sundays at 11 a.m. Eastern time. Additionally, “Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors” is broadcast by the American Forces Network to 800,000 service men and women stationed around the world in 177 countries and aboard naval ships. Saturday’s final weigh-in will also be broadcast live to Wal-Mart stores nationwide by the Wal-Mart Television Network.

Day 1: Williams Leads on the Potomac River

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LAPLATA, Md. – For pros and co-anglers chasing berths in the $1.5 million Forrest L. Wood Championship, the 2005 Wal-Mart FLW Tour season has boiled down to four days of intense bass-fishing competition on the Potomac River in the $1.25 million Chevy Open presented by Kellogg’s – the tour’s final qualifying event. And just to make things a little more intense, the Potomac yielded a near-record catch of 1,706 bass weighing 3,917 pounds, 2 ounces.

The only tournament in FLW Tour history to produce more bass was the 2004 stop on Lake Champlain, where anglers caught 1,811 fish. That same event set the tour’s weight record at 4,481 pounds, 3 ounces. Lake Champlain also holds the No. 2 spot in overall weight with 4,082 pounds, 6 ounces crossing the scale in 2002. The 2002 Champlain tournament slipped to third in number of bass, however, with 1,638 fish, trailing Wednesday’s incredible catch on the Potomac by 68 fish. All 200 pros and 196 co-anglers competing Wednesday caught bass, including 180 limits in the Pro Division and 95 limits in the Co-angler Division. All of which proves that Charles County is home to some of the best bass fishing in the nation.

Land O’Lakes pro Jerry Williams of Conway, Ark., made the most of a fantastic opening day to take the early lead with five bass weighing 20 pounds, 4 ounces followed by Todd Faircloth of Jasper, Texas, in second with five bass weighing 18 pounds, 15 ounces and Michael Iaconelli of Runnemede, N.J., in third with five bass weighing 18 pounds, 12 ounces.

“I had no idea what I was going to do today,” said Williams, who has earned five FLW Tour top-10 finishes, including four in his 1998 rookie season. “It took a while to figure things out, but after that, we caught a lot of fish. My third spot held all of the bigger fish, and they really turned on when the tide started out. After that, I culled three or four 3-pounders.”

Williams caught the majority of his bass by flipping a jig to grass in 2 feet of water.

Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La. (five bass, 18 pounds, 4 ounces) and Kellogg’s pro Sam Newby of Pocola, Okla. (five bass, 18 pounds, 1 ounce) rounded out the top five pros.

Danny Correia of Marlborough, Mass., earned the day’s Snickers Big Bass award of $750 in the Pro Division with a 6-pound, 9-ounce largemouth.

Land O’Lakes Angler of the Year points leader and 7 UP pro JT Kenney of Frostburg finished a disappointing 70th place on opening day with five bass weighing 12 pounds, 14 ounces, leaving the door wide open for Hackney, Anthony Gagliardi of Prosperity, S.C., and Toshinari Namiki of Hachioji-City, Japan, to take the title from him.

Coming into the event, Gagliardi, Hackney and Namiki trailed Kenney by 2, 16 and 23 points, respectively, in the No. 2, 3 and 4 positions. After opening day, however, Hackney holds a 66 point lead on Kenney. Namiki now holds a 57 point lead on Kenney and trials Hackney by 9 points. And Gagliardi holds a 36 point lead on Kenney, but trails Hackney and Namiki by 30 and 21 points, respectively. Tides can change rapidly on the Potomac, however, so the race is still up for grabs.

In the Co-angler Division Chris Koester of Winston Salem, N.C., leads the field with five bass weighing 16 pounds, 9 ounces. He fished with Lawry’s pro Jason Kilpatrick of Satsuma, Ala., who caught five bass weighing 10 pounds, 9 ounces and is currently 129th on the pro side.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Robert Blosser of Poynette, Wis. (five bass, 15 pounds, 15 ounces); Terry Chapman of Cornelius, N.C. (five bass, 15 pounds, 3 ounces); Thomas Greene of Germantown (five bass, 14 pounds, 9 ounces); and Dino Caporuscio of Coto De Caza, Calif. (five bass, 14 pounds, 7 ounces).

Bill Rogers of Jasper, Texas, claimed the Snickers Big Bass award and $500 in the Co-angler Division with a 6-pound, 2-ounce bass that he caught while fishing with pro Robert Karbas Jr. of Wake Forest, N.C., who is currently in 18th with five bass weighing 15 pounds, 11 ounces.

More than 98 percent of the bass were released alive.

Anglers will take off each morning from Smallwood State Park in Marbury at 6:30 a.m. Thursday’s weigh-in will also be held at the park beginning at 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday’s weigh-ins will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 40 Drury Drive in LaPlata beginning at 5 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.

The community is invited to join the worlds’ top bass anglers as they celebrate the FLW Tour’s 10th anniversary in the Family Fun Zone Friday and Saturday outside the weigh-in tent in the Wal-Mart parking lot. The Family Fun Zone, which opens at 2 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday, features interactive displays, product samples and games for the entire family to enjoy.

Tom Arnold, Chris Rose and John Salley will be appearing in the Family Fun Zone from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday for a special taping of the FSN hit “Best Damn Sports Show Period,” which airs weeknights at 10:30 p.m. Arnold, Rose and Salley will interview FLW Tour anglers and prominent sports figures from the Washington, D.C., area. Spectators could possibly make an appearance on the show as well, so you won’t want to miss this opportunity.

Monte Burke, author of “Sowbelly, the Obsessive Quest for the World Record Largemouth Bass,” will also be in the Fun Zone autographing copies of his new hit book.

Following Thursday’s competition, the field will be narrowed from 200 competitors per division to 10, and weights will be cleared for Friday’s competition. Co-angler competition concludes Friday based on the heaviest one-day weight, and pros continue competition Saturday with the winner determined by the heaviest two-day weight. The winning co-angler earns $40,000 while the winning pro earns $200,000. Pros finishing as low as 50th place earn $10,000.

The top 48 pros and top 48 co-anglers in the Land O’Lakes Angler of the Year points standings following this event will advance to the Forrest L. Wood Championship July 13-16 in Hot Springs, Ark., on Lake Hamilton. The $1.5 million championship presented by Castrol awards the winning pro $500,000 cash, the sport’s largest payout, and features a world-class outdoor show. Pros earn a minimum of $15,000 just for qualifying.

Complete coverage of the Chevy Open presented by Kellogg’s will be broadcast to 82 million FSN subscribers as part of the “Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors” television program July 24 and 31. “Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors” airs Sundays at 11 a.m. Eastern time. Additionally, “Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors” is broadcast by the American Forces Network to 800,000 service men and women stationed around the world in 177 countries and aboard naval ships. Saturday’s final weigh-in will also be broadcast live to Wal-Mart stores nationwide by the Wal-Mart Television Network.

 

Rank Name     Hometown       Bass Weight
1 JERRY WILLIAMS CONWAY, AR 5 20 4
2 TODD FAIRCLOTH JASPER, TX 5 18 15
3 MICHAEL IACONELLI RUNNEMEDE, NJ 5 18 12
4 GREG HACKNEY GONZALES, LA 5 18 4
5 SAM NEWBY POCOLA, OK 5 18 1
6 DAVE LEFEBRE ERIE, PA 5 17 12
7 MICHAEL D HUMINIK STAFFORD, VA 5 17 6
8 ALVIN SHAW STATE ROAD, NC 5 17 4
9 DAVID LAUER SOUTH BEND, IN 5 16 14
9 RANDY BLAUKAT LAMAR, MO 5 16 14
11 STEVEN MCGAHAN GALES FERRY, CT 5 16 12
12 BRENT CHAPMAN LAKE QUIVIRA, KS 5 16 7
13 TOSHINARI NAMIKI HACHIOJI- CITY, TO 5 16 6
13 DANNY CORREIA MARLBOROUGH, MA 5 16 6
15 ANDY MORGAN DAYTON, TN 5 15 15
15 DAVID GIVENS HERNANDO, FL 5 15 15
17 CLIFFORD PIRCH PAYSON, AZ 5 15 12
18 ROBERT KARBAS JR WAKE FOREST, NC 5 15 11
19 MATT W HERREN TRUSSVILLE, AL 5 15 8
20 MICHAEL BENNETT ROSEVILLE, CA 5 15 7
21 KELLY JORDON MINEOLA, TX 5 15 6
22 JIM MOYNAGH CARVER, MN 5 15 4
23 SCOTT SUGGS BRYANT, AR 5 15 3
24 JASON ABRAM CHUCKEY, TN 5 15 2
25 CURT LYTLE ZUNI, VA 5 15 0
26 CARL SVEBEK III SILOAM SPRINGS, AR 5 14 13
26 DAVID J WRIGHT LEXINGTON, NC 5 14 13
26 KIM STRICKER HOWELL, MI 5 14 13
29 RANDY ALEXANDER LONDON, KY 5 14 12
29 CLARK WENDLANDT CEDAR PARK, TX 5 14 12
29 SEAN HOERNKE MAGNOLIA, TX 5 14 12
32 MASAKI SHIMONO SHIGA-PREF JAPAN, 5 14 10
33 CHIP HARRISON BREMEN, IN 5 14 7
34 MIKE WURM HOT SPRINGS, AR 5 14 6
34 ANTHONY GAGLIARDI PROSPERITY, SC 5 14 6
36 STEVE KENNEDY AUBURN, AL 5 14 5
36 CRAIG POWERS ROCKWOOD, TN 5 14 5
36 JONATHAN NEWTON ROGERSVILLE, AL 5 14 5
36 SHAD SCHENCK WAYNETOWN, IN 5 14 5
40 GEORGE E COCHRAN HOT SPRINGS NP, AR 5 14 3
41 LARRY NIXON BEE BRANCH, AR 5 14 2
41 LEE SKIPPER LANCASTER, SC 5 14 2
43 GARY Y YAMAMOTO MINEOLA, TX 5 14 1
44 DWAYNE HORTON KNOXVILLE, TN 5 14 0
44 MARK ROSE MARION, AR 5 14 0
46 ART BERRY HEMET, CA 5 13 15
46 TERRY SEGRAVES KISSIMMEE, FL 5 13 15
48 TOMMY BIFFLE WAGONER, OK 5 13 14
49 LEWIS DENNEY INDIAN MOUND, TN 5 13 12
49 KEITH PACE MONTICELLO, AR 5 13 12
51 HARMON DAVIS MARLOW, OK 5 13 11
51 WILLIAM M DAVIS RUSSELLVILLE, AL 5 13 11
53 BRENNAN BOSLEY BENTON, AR 5 13 10
53 NICK GREBB ROSEVILLE, CA 5 13 10
55 JIM TUTT LONGVIEW, TX 5 13 9
56 TERRY BOLTON PADUCAH, KY 5 13 8
56 ALTON JONES WACO, TX 5 13 8
58 JODY CORDELL FLOWERY BRANCH, GA 5 13 7
58 MARCEL VEENSTRA BRIGHTON, MI 5 13 7
60 CHRIS MCCALL JASPER, TX 5 13 6
61 PETE GLUSZEK FRANKLINVILLE, NJ 5 13 5
61 BRAD D WALL CLARKSVILLE, OH 5 13 5
61 BOBBY CURTIS SILOAM SPRINGS, AR 5 13 5
61 CHUCK ECONOMOU REDINGTON SHORES, FL 5 13 5
65 MICKEY BRUCE BUFORD, GA 5 13 3
66 TONY COUCH BUCKHEAD, GA 5 13 0
66 DAN MOREHEAD PADUCAH, KY 5 13 0
68 PAT FISHER BUCKHEAD, GA 5 12 15
68 GLENN CHAPPELEAR ACWORTH, GA 5 12 15
70 J T KENNEY FROSTBURG, MD 5 12 14
70 DEREK YAMAMOTO TEMPE, AZ 5 12 14
70 DALE TEANEY WILLIAMSBURG, OH 5 12 14
73 TIM SHMIGAL AKRON, OH 5 12 13
74 KOBY KREIGER OKEECHOBEE, FL 5 12 11
75 GREG PUGH CULLMAN, AL 5 12 10
75 JEFFREY THOMAS BROADWAY, NC 5 12 10
77 JIM CARNELL MUSKOGEE, OK 5 12 9
77 CHARLES KING SHREVEPORT, LA 5 12 9
79 ELTON LUCE JR BROOKELAND, TX 5 12 8
80 RICHARD BENNETT ROSEVILLE, CA 5 12 6
81 SEAN MINDERMAN SPOKANE, WA 5 12 5
82 NICK GAINEY CHARLESTON, SC 5 12 4
82 GLENN BROWNE OCALA, FL 5 12 4
84 SAM SWETT COVINGTON, LA 5 12 3
84 SCOTT R MARTIN CLEWISTON, FL 5 12 3
84 TODD ARY MOODY, AL 5 12 3
87 JACK D BELL KANE, PA 5 12 2
87 RICK MARSH HIGH POINT, NC 5 12 2
87 MARK HARDIN CANTON, GA 5 12 2
87 JIMMY MILLSAPS CANTON, GA 5 12 2
87 DAVID COOKE MOORESVILLE, NC 5 12 2
87 CHIC AYDELETTE THOMASVILLE, NC 5 12 2
93 GUIDO HIBDON GRAVOIS MILLS, MO 5 12 1
94 CHRIS ELLIOTT GLOUCESTER, NC 5 12 0
94 KEVIN VIDA CLARE, MI 5 12 0
96 JEREMIAH KINDY BENTON, AR 5 11 15
97 BOBBY LANE LAKELAND, FL 5 11 14
97 RAY SCHEIDE RUSSELLVILLE, AR 5 11 14
97 SANDY MELVIN BOCA GRANDE, FL 5 11 14
100 CHRIS DAVES HOPEWELL, VA 5 11 13
100 TOBY HARTSELL LIVINGSTON, TX 5 11 13
100 ROBERT H PEARSON HERNDON, VA 5 11 13
100 DION HIBDON STOVER, MO 5 11 13
100 ROB KILBY HOT SPRINGS, AR 5 11 13
105 FABIAN RODRIGUEZ OCEAN CITY, MD 5 11 12
106 RAMIE COLSON JR CADIZ, KY 5 11 11
106 DAVID WALKER SEVIERVILLE, TN 5 11 11
106 MIKE HAWKES SABINAL, TX 5 11 11
109 ASA GODSEY CLEWISTON, FL 5 11 8
110 KEN WICK STAR, ID 5 11 7
110 CODY BIRD GRANBURY, TX 5 11 7
110 ART FERGUSON III ST. CLAIR SHORES, MI 5 11 7
113 WESLEY STRADER SPRING CITY, TN 5 11 6
113 LENDELL MARTIN JR NACOGDOCHES, TX 5 11 6
115 KATSUTOSHI FURUSAWA TOKYO JAPAN 1920153, 5 11 5
116 KEITH WILLIAMS CONWAY, AR 5 11 3
117 DENNIS MAGOTO WAYNESVILLE, OH 5 11 1
117 JOHN MURRAY PHOENIX, AZ 5 11 1
117 MORIZO SHIMIZU SUITA, OSAKA JAPAN 91, KY 5 11 1
120 STEPHEN L TOSH JR MODESTO, CA 5 11 0
121 CHARLIE WEYER WEST HILLS, CA 5 10 14
121 SHINICHI FUKAE OSAKA JAPAN 566-0072, 5 10 14
123 ALLEN CAUTHEN LANCASTER, SC 5 10 13
123 TOM MONSOOR LA CROSSE, WI 5 10 13
125 MIKE LEBLANC COLCHESTER, VT 5 10 12
126 WES THOMAS HANOVER, IN 5 10 11
126 LUKE CLAUSEN SPOKANE, WA 5 10 11
128 BILLY BOWEN JR OCALA, FL 5 10 10
129 JOEL RICHARDSON KERNERSVILLE, NC 5 10 9
129 CHARLIE HARTLEY GROVE CITY, OH 5 10 9
129 JASON KILPATRICK SATSUMA, AL 5 10 9
132 GLENN E MILLER NEWBORN, GA 5 10 7
132 GREG GULLEDGE MONTICELLO, AR 5 10 7
134 DAVID P DUDLEY LYNCHBURG, VA 5 10 6
134 KENNETH STRICKLAND GREENSBORO, NC 5 10 6
136 ALFRED WILLIAMS JACKSON, MS 5 10 5
137 JACK GADLAGE BENTON, KY 5 10 3
137 WILLIAM P DROWN ROSELAND, FL 5 10 3
139 ROBERT SHERRY SAINT CHARLES, IL 5 10 2
139 DAVID SMITH DEL CITY, OK 5 10 2
139 VIC VATALARO KENT, OH 5 10 2
139 TIM CARROLL OWASSO, OK 5 10 2
143 BRENT EHRLER REDLANDS, CA 5 10 1
143 CHAD GRIGSBY COLON, MI 5 10 1
145 RICK TAYLOR HOLLAND, MI 5 10 0
146 JOHN SAPPINGTON WILLARD, MO 5 9 14
147 ROGER A BOLER SLIDELL, LA 5 9 13
147 BERNIE SCHULTZ GAINESVILLE, FL 5 9 13
147 JAMES H CHARLESWORTH SAINT CLOUD, FL 5 9 13
147 WAYNE JEFFCOAT CHAPIN, SC 5 9 13
151 ISHAMA MONROE HUGHSON, CA 5 9 12
152 JOHN W CREWS SALEM, VA 5 9 11
152 PAUL ELIAS LAUREL, MS 5 9 11
152 CHAD COOK SUMMERVILLE, SC 5 9 11
152 MARK GOINES SHADY POINT, OK 5 9 11
156 MARCUS CLOUSE LAS VEGAS, NV 5 9 10
157 DARREL ROBERTSON JAY, OK 5 9 8
158 ERNIE FREEMAN GAMBRILLS, MD 4 9 7
158 JAMES A PARKER FAYETTEVILLE, NC 5 9 7
160 MIKE SURMAN BOCA RATON, FL 5 9 6
161 JERRY GREEN JUSTICEBURG, TX 5 9 5
161 RICH TAUBER CAMARILLO, CA 5 9 5
163 TRACY ADAMS WILKESBORO, NC 5 9 4
164 JIM NOLAN BULL SHOALS, AR 5 9 3
165 TERRY BAKSAY MONROE, CT 5 9 1
166 ANDRE MOORE SCOTTSDALE, AZ 5 9 0
167 ZELL ROWLAND MONTGOMERY, TX 5 8 15
168 CHARLIE INGRAM SANTA FE, TN 5 8 13
169 MARY T DIVINCENTI CLINTON, LA 4 8 10
170 JIMMY HOUSTON COOKSON, OK 5 8 8
171 CHRIS BAUMGARDNER GASTONIA, NC 5 8 7
171 TOM MANN JR BUFORD, GA 5 8 7
173 TAKAHIRO OMORI EMORY, TX 5 8 5
174 JAMES QUILLMAN PLANO, TX 5 8 4
174 PAUL A WHITMAN JR DALLAS, TX 5 8 4
176 SIMON MORROW ALEXANDER CITY, AL 5 8 3
177 DANNY PIERCE GREENBRIER, AR 5 8 2
177 CHAD MORGENTHALER COULTERVILLE, IL 5 8 2
179 BOBBY LANHAM SCOTTSDALE, AZ 3 8 1
180 AL GAGLIARDUCCI AGAWAM, MA 4 8 0
181 STEVE GALLOWAY LA FAYETTE, GA 5 7 13
182 STEVE DANIEL CLEWISTON, FL 5 7 8
183 RUSTY SALEWSKE ALPINE, CA 4 7 7
184 RICKY SHUMPERT LEXINGTON, SC 5 7 4
184 SCOTT DOBSON CLARKSTON, MI 4 7 4
186 RICK LILLEGARD PICKTON, TX 3 7 2
187 MARK PACK MINEOLA, TX 3 6 13
188 JACOB POWROZNIK PRINCE GEORGE, VA 4 6 11
189 DALE EVANS RIDGEVILLE, SC 3 6 10
190 STEPHEN H WILSON MISSION HILLS, CA 4 6 8
191 WARREN WYMAN CALERA, AL 4 6 1
191 DEAN ROJAS GRAND SALINE, TX 2 6 1
193 JIM LIECHTY FORT WAYNE, IN 5 5 7
194 TERRY TUCKER GADSDEN, AL 3 5 5
195 LEE BAILEY JR BOAZ, AL 4 4 10
196 TRAVIS ADAMS DANIELSVILLE, GA 2 4 9
197 MICHAEL T BROWN ROCKY FACE, GA 2 4 8
198 AARON MARTENS LEEDS, AL 3 4 4
199 RUSS MORAN MURFREESBORO, TN 2 3 14
200 LLOYD T PICKETT JR BARTLETT, TN 2 3 8

Day 2: Chapman Leads Open on Potomac

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LA PLATA, Md. – With two days complete at the $1.25 million Chevy Open presented by Kellogg’s on the Potomac River, the Wal-Mart FLW Tour’s qualifying season is over for all but the 10 remaining pros and co-anglers who will continue fishing in the final round for top awards of $200,000 and $40,000, respectively. The top 48 anglers in each division following the end of competition Saturday will also advance to the $1.5 million Forrest L. Wood Championship in Hot Springs, Ark., July 13-16.

Brent Chapman of Lake Quivira, Kan., leads the Pro Division with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 33 pounds, 10 ounces. He caught five bass weighing 16 pounds, 7 ounces Wednesday using a homemade 3/8-ounce jig with a Zoom Super Chuck Jr. trailer then added another five bass weighing 17 pounds, 3 ounces Thursday using the same lure around both shallow grass and boat docks. He also used a crankbait early in the day to boat a quick limit near grass beds. Low tide, he said, is helping to position his fish each day.

“I feel good right now,” said Chapman, who is expecting the birth of his second child any day now. “I’ve finished 11th twice already this year, so it’s great to make the top 10. If I miss my daughter’s birth, I figure a $200,000 check will help make up for it.”

Michael Iaconelli of Runnemede, N.J., added five bass weighing 14 pounds, 13 ounces to his day one catch of five bass weighing 18 pounds, 12 ounces to finish the opening round in second with 10 bass weighing 33 pounds, 9 ounces.

Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La., claimed the No. 3 qualifying spot in the final round with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 32 pounds, 10 ounces.

Toshinari Namiki of Hachioji-City, Japan, (10 bass, 32 pounds, 7 ounces) and Kellogg’s pro Clark Wendlandt of Cedar Park, Texas, (10 bass, 31 pounds, 13 ounces) rounded out the top five pros.

All told, it was another near-record performance in Charles County as 195 pros and 181 co-anglers caught bass, bringing a total of 1,495 fish weighing 3,166 pounds, 15 ounces to the stage. The two-day opening round catch of 3,201 bass weighing 7,084 pounds, 1 ounce is the tour’s third best of all time in terms of bass caught and weight. Only Lake Champlain in New York produced more fish in 2004 (3,457 bass, 8,239 pounds, 11 ounces) and 2002 (3,233 bass, 7,865 pounds, 8 ounces). Most of the bass weighed in on Lake Champlain were smallmouths, while the Potomac River produced largemouths.

The closely contested Land O’Lakes Angler of the Year points race drew even closer Thursday with only seven points separating Hackney and Namiki in the chase for the coveted title. Both men came from behind to unseat the previous points leader, J.T. Kenney of Frostburg, who fishes for Team 7 UP. Final points will not be available until Saturday’s final weigh-in.

Coming into the event, Gagliardi, Hackney and Namiki trailed Kenney by 2, 16 and 23 points, respectively, in the No. 2, 3 and 4 positions. Gagliardi finished the tournament in 37th with 10 bass weighing 25 pounds, 8 ounces while Kenney finished 114th with nine bass weighing 20 pounds, 12 ounces.

Gary Yamamoto of Mineola, Texas, earned the Energizer Keeps on Going Award for jumping from 43rd in the standings to qualify for the final round as the No. 7 angler.

Chapman earned the day’s Snickers Big Bass award of $750 in the Pro Division with a 5-pound, 14-ounce largemouth. Danny Correia of Marlborough, Mass., earned the overall Snickers Big Bass award of $1,000 for catching the heaviest bass in either division during the opening round. Correia caught a 6-pound, 9-ounce largemouth Wednesday.

Roger Hester II of Walnut Cove, N.C., leads the Co-angler Division thanks to a two-day catch of 10 bass weighing 26 pounds, 12 ounces. Hester caught five bass weighing 13 pounds, 14 ounces Wednesday while fishing with John Crews of Salem, Va., then added another five bass weighing 12 pounds, 14 ounces to his total Thursday while fishing with pro Koby Kreiger of Okeechobee, Fla.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Kent McPhail of Lubbock, Texas (10 bass, 26 pounds, 7 ounces); Fred Martin of North Little Rock, Ark. (10 bass, 26 pounds, 5 ounces); Johnny Taylor of Kodak, Tenn. (10 bass, 26 pounds, 5 ounces); and Merle Wells Jr. of Hammond, N.Y. (10 bass, 25 pounds, 10 ounces).

Dennis Kirby of Lakeland, Tenn., claimed the Snickers Big Bass award and $375 in the Co-angler Division with a 6-pound, 6-ounce bass that he caught while fishing with pro Steven McGahan of Gales Ferry, Conn.

Anglers will take off each morning from Smallwood State Park in Marbury at 6:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday’s weigh-ins will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 40 Drury Drive in LaPlata beginning at 5 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.

The community is invited to join the world’s top bass anglers as they celebrate the FLW Tour’s 10th anniversary in the Family Fun Zone Friday and Saturday outside the weigh-in tent in the Wal-Mart parking lot. The Family Fun Zone, which opens at 2 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday, features interactive displays, product samples and games for the entire family to enjoy.

Tom Arnold, Chris Rose and John Salley will be appearing in the Family Fun Zone from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday for a special taping of the FSN hit “Best Damn Sports Show Period,” which airs weeknights at 10:30 p.m. Arnold, Rose and Salley will interview FLW Tour anglers and prominent sports figures from the Washington, D.C., area. Spectators could possibly make an appearance on the show as well, so you won’t want to miss this opportunity.

Monte Burke, author of “Sowbelly, the Obsessive Quest for the World Record Largemouth Bass,” will also be in the Fun Zone autographing copies of his new hit book.

Following Thursday’s competition, the field was narrowed from 200 competitors per division to 10, and weights were cleared for Friday’s competition. Co-angler competition concludes Friday based on the heaviest one-day weight, and pros continue competition Saturday with the winner determined by the heaviest two-day weight. The winning co-angler earns $40,000 while the winning pro earns $200,000. Pros finishing as low as 50th place earn $10,000.

The top 48 pros and top 48 co-anglers in the Land O’Lakes Angler of the Year points standings following this event will advance to the Forrest L. Wood Championship July 13-16 in Hot Springs, Ark., on Lake Hamilton. The $1.5 million championship presented by Castrol awards the winning pro $500,000 cash, the sport’s largest payout, and features a world-class outdoor show. Pros earn a minimum of $15,000 just for qualifying.

Complete coverage of the Chevy Open presented by Kellogg’s will be broadcast to 82 million FSN subscribers as part of the “Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors” television program July 24 and 31. “Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors” airs Sundays at 11 a.m. Eastern time. Additionally, “Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors” is broadcast by the American Forces Network to 800,000 service men and women stationed around the world in 177 countries and aboard naval ships. Saturday’s final weigh-in will also be broadcast live to Wal-Mart stores nationwide by the Wal-Mart Television Network.

Rank Name Hometown Day 1 Bass Day 1 Weight Bass Weight Total Weight Winnings
1 BRENT CHAPMAN LAKE QUIVIRA, KS 5 16 7 5 17 3 33 10
2 MICHAEL IACONELLI RUNNEMEDE, NJ 5 18 12 5 14 13 33 9
3 GREG HACKNEY GONZALES, LA 5 18 4 5 14 6 32 10
4 TOSHINARI NAMIKI HACHIOJI- CITY, TO 5 16 6 5 16 1 32 7
5 CLARK WENDLANDT CEDAR PARK, TX 5 14 12 5 17 1 31 13
6 JERRY WILLIAMS CONWAY, AR 5 20 4 5 11 3 31 7
7 GARY Y YAMAMOTO MINEOLA, TX 5 14 1 5 16 13 30 14
8 CARL SVEBEK III SILOAM SPRINGS, AR 5 14 13 5 15 13 30 10
9 GEORGE E COCHRAN HOT SPRINGS NP, AR 5 14 3 5 16 4 30 7
10 SAM NEWBY POCOLA, OK 5 18 1 5 12 3 30 4
11 TODD FAIRCLOTH JASPER, TX 5 18 15 5 10 4 29 3 13000.00
12 ANDY MORGAN DAYTON, TN 5 15 15 5 12 11 28 10 13000.00
13 MATT W HERREN TRUSSVILLE, AL 5 15 8 5 13 1 28 9 13000.00
14 MICHAEL D HUMINIK STAFFORD, VA 5 17 6 5 10 14 28 4 13000.00
15 LARRY NIXON BEE BRANCH, AR 5 14 2 5 14 2 28 4 13000.00
16 SCOTT SUGGS BRYANT, AR 5 15 3 5 12 15 28 2 12000.00
17 DAVE LEFEBRE ERIE, PA 5 17 12 5 10 4 28 0 12000.00
18 RANDY BLAUKAT LAMAR, MO 5 16 14 5 11 2 28 0 12000.00
19 KOBY KREIGER OKEECHOBEE, FL 5 12 11 5 15 5 28 0 12000.00
20 CLIFFORD PIRCH PAYSON, AZ 5 15 12 5 12 3 27 15 12000.00
21 STEVE KENNEDY AUBURN, AL 5 14 5 5 13 9 27 14 11500.00
22 DAVID LAUER SOUTH BEND, IN 5 16 14 5 10 14 27 12 11500.00
23 STEVEN MCGAHAN GALES FERRY, CT 5 16 12 5 10 14 27 10 11500.00
24 SEAN HOERNKE MAGNOLIA, TX 5 14 12 5 12 14 27 10 11500.00
25 MARK ROSE MARION, AR 5 14 0 5 13 8 27 8 11500.00
26 ART BERRY HEMET, CA 5 13 15 5 13 7 27 6 11000.00
27 JASON ABRAM CHUCKEY, TN 5 15 2 5 12 2 27 4 11000.00
28 CURT LYTLE ZUNI, VA 5 15 0 5 12 4 27 4 11000.00
29 SEAN MINDERMAN SPOKANE, WA 5 12 5 5 14 13 27 2 11000.00
30 KELLY JORDON MINEOLA, TX 5 15 6 5 11 0 26 6 11000.00
31 ROBERT KARBAS JR WAKE FOREST, NC 5 15 11 5 10 4 25 15 10500.00
32 HARMON DAVIS MARLOW, OK 5 13 11 5 12 2 25 13 10500.00
33 TONY COUCH BUCKHEAD, GA 5 13 0 5 12 13 25 13 10500.00
34 SANDY MELVIN BOCA GRANDE, FL 5 11 14 5 13 13 25 11 10500.00
35 JONATHAN NEWTON ROGERSVILLE, AL 5 14 5 5 11 5 25 10 10500.00
36 PETE GLUSZEK FRANKLINVILLE, NJ 5 13 5 5 12 5 25 10 10500.00
37 ANTHONY GAGLIARDI PROSPERITY, SC 5 14 6 5 11 2 25 8 10500.00
38 CHRIS DAVES HOPEWELL, VA 5 11 13 5 13 10 25 7 10500.00
39 BRENNAN BOSLEY BENTON, AR 5 13 10 5 11 12 25 6 10500.00
40 DANNY CORREIA MARLBOROUGH, MA 5 16 6 5 8 15 25 5 10500.00
41 GLENN BROWNE OCALA, FL 5 12 4 5 13 1 25 5 10000.00
42 MICHAEL BENNETT ROSEVILLE, CA 5 15 7 5 9 13 25 4 10000.00
43 ROB KILBY HOT SPRINGS, AR 5 11 13 5 13 7 25 4 10000.00
44 CHARLIE HARTLEY GROVE CITY, OH 5 10 9 5 14 10 25 3 10000.00
45 PAT FISHER BUCKHEAD, GA 5 12 15 5 12 4 25 3 10000.00
46 JIM TUTT LONGVIEW, TX 5 13 9 5 11 9 25 2 10000.00
47 DWAYNE HORTON KNOXVILLE, TN 5 14 0 5 11 1 25 1 10000.00
48 TODD ARY MOODY, AL 5 12 3 5 12 12 24 15 10000.00
49 GREG PUGH CULLMAN, AL 5 12 10 5 12 5 24 15 10000.00
50 CHUCK ECONOMOU REDINGTON SHORES, FL 5 13 5 5 11 7 24 12 10000.00
51 JIM MOYNAGH CARVER, MN 5 15 4 5 9 7 24 11 5000.00
52 BRAD D WALL CLARKSVILLE, OH 5 13 5 5 11 5 24 10 5000.00
53 DAVID COOKE MOORESVILLE, NC 5 12 2 5 12 7 24 9 5000.00
54 JOEL RICHARDSON KERNERSVILLE, NC 5 10 9 5 13 15 24 8 5000.00
55 MORIZO SHIMIZU SUITA, OSAKA JAPAN 91, KY 5 11 1 5 13 7 24 8 5000.00
56 CRAIG POWERS ROCKWOOD, TN 5 14 5 5 10 2 24 7 5000.00
57 BOBBY CURTIS SILOAM SPRINGS, AR 5 13 5 5 11 1 24 6 5000.00
58 KEN WICK STAR, ID 5 11 7 5 12 15 24 6 5000.00
59 FABIAN RODRIGUEZ OCEAN CITY, MD 5 11 12 5 12 9 24 5 5000.00
60 JEREMIAH KINDY BENTON, AR 5 11 15 5 12 5 24 4 5000.00
61 KEITH PACE MONTICELLO, AR 5 13 12 5 10 7 24 3 3000.00
62 RICHARD BENNETT ROSEVILLE, CA 5 12 6 5 11 13 24 3 3000.00
63 CHIP HARRISON BREMEN, IN 5 14 7 5 9 7 23 14 3000.00
64 CODY BIRD GRANBURY, TX 5 11 7 5 12 7 23 14 3000.00
65 NICK GAINEY CHARLESTON, SC 5 12 4 5 11 9 23 13 3000.00
66 RAY SCHEIDE RUSSELLVILLE, AR 5 11 14 5 11 15 23 13 3000.00
67 DAVID J WRIGHT LEXINGTON, NC 5 14 13 5 8 15 23 12 3000.00
68 LEWIS DENNEY INDIAN MOUND, TN 5 13 12 5 9 14 23 10 3000.00
69 DEREK YAMAMOTO TEMPE, AZ 5 12 14 5 10 11 23 9 3000.00
70 WES THOMAS HANOVER, IN 5 10 11 5 12 13 23 8 3000.00
71 LENDELL MARTIN JR NACOGDOCHES, TX 5 11 6 5 12 2 23 8 3000.00
72 ALVIN SHAW STATE ROAD, NC 5 17 4 3 6 3 23 7 3000.00
73 KATSUTOSHI FURUSAWA TOKYO JAPAN 1920153, 5 11 5 5 12 1 23 6 3000.00
74 CHAD MORGENTHALER COULTERVILLE, IL 5 8 2 5 15 2 23 4 3000.00
75 TAKAHIRO OMORI EMORY, TX 5 8 5 5 14 11 23 0 3000.00
76 DAN MOREHEAD PADUCAH, KY 5 13 0 5 10 0 23 0
77 MIKE HAWKES SABINAL, TX 5 11 11 5 11 5 23 0
78 MASAKI SHIMONO SHIGA-PREF JAPAN, 5 14 10 5 8 5 22 15
79 ALTON JONES WACO, TX 5 13 8 5 9 7 22 15
80 JODY CORDELL FLOWERY BRANCH, GA 5 13 7 5 9 8 22 15
81 SHINICHI FUKAE OSAKA JAPAN 566-0072, 5 10 14 5 12 1 22 15
82 LEE SKIPPER LANCASTER, SC 5 14 2 5 8 10 22 12
83 CHRIS MCCALL JASPER, TX 5 13 6 5 9 6 22 12
84 CHIC AYDELETTE THOMASVILLE, NC 5 12 2 5 10 10 22 12
85 DAVID GIVENS HERNANDO, FL 5 15 15 3 6 11 22 10
86 ZELL ROWLAND MONTGOMERY, TX 5 8 15 5 13 11 22 10
87 DAVID P DUDLEY LYNCHBURG, VA 5 10 6 5 12 1 22 7
88 TIM CARROLL OWASSO, OK 5 10 2 5 12 4 22 6
89 DAVID WALKER SEVIERVILLE, TN 5 11 11 5 10 9 22 4
90 ART FERGUSON III ST. CLAIR SHORES, MI 5 11 7 5 10 12 22 3
91 TOM MONSOOR LA CROSSE, WI 5 10 13 5 11 6 22 3
92 MICKEY BRUCE BUFORD, GA 5 13 3 5 8 14 22 1
93 MARK HARDIN CANTON, GA 5 12 2 5 9 14 22 0
94 GUIDO HIBDON GRAVOIS MILLS, MO 5 12 1 5 9 14 21 15
95 STEPHEN L TOSH JR MODESTO, CA 5 11 0 5 10 15 21 15
96 TRACY ADAMS WILKESBORO, NC 5 9 4 5 12 10 21 14
97 CHRIS ELLIOTT GLOUCESTER, NC 5 12 0 5 9 11 21 11
98 DION HIBDON STOVER, MO 5 11 13 5 9 13 21 10
99 KENNETH STRICKLAND GREENSBORO, NC 5 10 6 5 11 4 21 10
100 JIMMY MILLSAPS CANTON, GA 5 12 2 5 9 7 21 9
101 TOBY HARTSELL LIVINGSTON, TX 5 11 13 5 9 12 21 9
102 WAYNE JEFFCOAT CHAPIN, SC 5 9 13 5 11 12 21 9
103 ISHAMA MONROE HUGHSON, CA 5 9 12 5 11 11 21 7
104 BOBBY LANHAM SCOTTSDALE, AZ 3 8 1 5 13 4 21 5
105 CHRIS BAUMGARDNER GASTONIA, NC 5 8 7 5 12 14 21 5
106 ELTON LUCE JR BROOKELAND, TX 5 12 8 5 8 13 21 5
107 VIC VATALARO KENT, OH 5 10 2 5 11 2 21 4
108 MARCEL VEENSTRA BRIGHTON, MI 5 13 7 5 7 10 21 1
109 MIKE WURM HOT SPRINGS, AR 5 14 6 5 6 10 21 0
110 KEVIN VIDA CLARE, MI 5 12 0 5 9 0 21 0
111 ANDRE MOORE SCOTTSDALE, AZ 5 9 0 5 11 14 20 14
112 CHARLIE WEYER WEST HILLS, CA 5 10 14 5 10 0 20 14
113 STEVE DANIEL CLEWISTON, FL 5 7 8 5 13 4 20 12
114 J T KENNEY FROSTBURG, MD 5 12 14 4 7 14 20 12
115 PAUL ELIAS LAUREL, MS 5 9 11 5 11 1 20 12
116 CHARLES KING SHREVEPORT, LA 5 12 9 5 8 2 20 11
117 DENNIS MAGOTO WAYNESVILLE, OH 5 11 1 5 9 9 20 10
118 BRENT EHRLER REDLANDS, CA 5 10 1 5 10 8 20 9
119 TIM SHMIGAL AKRON, OH 5 12 13 4 7 11 20 8
120 KIM STRICKER HOWELL, MI 5 14 13 3 5 10 20 7
121 JIMMY HOUSTON COOKSON, OK 5 8 8 5 11 15 20 7
122 WESLEY STRADER SPRING CITY, TN 5 11 6 5 9 1 20 7
123 LUKE CLAUSEN SPOKANE, WA 5 10 11 4 9 12 20 7
124 SCOTT DOBSON CLARKSTON, MI 4 7 4 5 13 1 20 5
125 JOHN W CREWS SALEM, VA 5 9 11 5 10 10 20 5
126 MARCUS CLOUSE LAS VEGAS, NV 5 9 10 5 10 9 20 3
127 JAMES H CHARLESWORTH SAINT CLOUD, FL 5 9 13 5 10 6 20 3
128 NICK GREBB ROSEVILLE, CA 5 13 10 4 6 7 20 1
129 TERRY BOLTON PADUCAH, KY 5 13 8 3 6 7 19 15
130 SHAD SCHENCK WAYNETOWN, IN 5 14 5 2 5 9 19 14
131 KEITH WILLIAMS CONWAY, AR 5 11 3 5 8 11 19 14
132 GREG GULLEDGE MONTICELLO, AR 5 10 7 5 9 7 19 14
133 GLENN CHAPPELEAR ACWORTH, GA 5 12 15 5 6 14 19 13
134 DARREL ROBERTSON JAY, OK 5 9 8 5 10 5 19 13
135 TERRY SEGRAVES KISSIMMEE, FL 5 13 15 3 5 13 19 12
136 JOHN MURRAY PHOENIX, AZ 5 11 1 5 8 10 19 11
137 ROGER A BOLER SLIDELL, LA 5 9 13 5 9 11 19 8
138 SAM SWETT COVINGTON, LA 5 12 3 5 7 4 19 7
139 MARK GOINES SHADY POINT, OK 5 9 11 5 9 10 19 5
140 ALFRED WILLIAMS JACKSON, MS 5 10 5 5 8 14 19 3
141 SCOTT R MARTIN CLEWISTON, FL 5 12 3 3 6 15 19 2
142 RICK TAYLOR HOLLAND, MI 5 10 0 4 9 2 19 2
143 TOMMY BIFFLE WAGONER, OK 5 13 14 3 5 2 19 0
144 GLENN E MILLER NEWBORN, GA 5 10 7 5 8 9 19 0
145 RICH TAUBER CAMARILLO, CA 5 9 5 5 9 11 19 0
146 RICK LILLEGARD PICKTON, TX 3 7 2 5 11 13 18 15
147 SIMON MORROW ALEXANDER CITY, AL 5 8 3 5 10 12 18 15
148 DEAN ROJAS GRAND SALINE, TX 2 6 1 5 12 13 18 14
149 CHAD GRIGSBY COLON, MI 5 10 1 4 8 13 18 14
150 JEFFREY THOMAS BROADWAY, NC 5 12 10 3 6 3 18 13
151 AL GAGLIARDUCCI AGAWAM, MA 4 8 0 5 10 13 18 13
152 ROBERT H PEARSON HERNDON, VA 5 11 13 4 6 15 18 12
153 DALE TEANEY WILLIAMSBURG, OH 5 12 14 3 5 13 18 11
154 ERNIE FREEMAN GAMBRILLS, MD 4 9 7 4 9 1 18 8
155 JACK D BELL KANE, PA 5 12 2 3 6 5 18 7
156 ROBERT SHERRY SAINT CHARLES, IL 5 10 2 5 8 5 18 7
157 WILLIAM M DAVIS RUSSELLVILLE, AL 5 13 11 3 4 9 18 4
158 JACOB POWROZNIK PRINCE GEORGE, VA 4 6 11 5 11 4 17 15
159 BOBBY LANE LAKELAND, FL 5 11 14 4 6 0 17 14
160 MICHAEL T BROWN ROCKY FACE, GA 2 4 8 5 13 4 17 12
161 WILLIAM P DROWN ROSELAND, FL 5 10 3 3 7 9 17 12
162 RAMIE COLSON JR CADIZ, KY 5 11 11 4 6 0 17 11
163 ASA GODSEY CLEWISTON, FL 5 11 8 3 6 2 17 10
164 JIM NOLAN BULL SHOALS, AR 5 9 3 5 8 4 17 7
165 RANDY ALEXANDER LONDON, KY 5 14 12 2 2 8 17 4
166 STEVE GALLOWAY LA FAYETTE, GA 5 7 13 4 9 7 17 4
167 CHARLIE INGRAM SANTA FE, TN 5 8 13 5 8 6 17 3
168 MARY T DIVINCENTI CLINTON, LA 4 8 10 4 8 5 16 15
169 JIM CARNELL MUSKOGEE, OK 5 12 9 1 4 5 16 14
170 JIM LIECHTY FORT WAYNE, IN 5 5 7 5 10 13 16 4
171 WARREN WYMAN CALERA, AL 4 6 1 5 10 3 16 4
172 JOHN SAPPINGTON WILLARD, MO 5 9 14 3 6 6 16 4
173 RUSTY SALEWSKE ALPINE, CA 4 7 7 5 8 13 16 4
174 PAUL A WHITMAN JR DALLAS, TX 5 8 4 5 7 13 16 1
175 STEPHEN H WILSON MISSION HILLS, CA 4 6 8 5 9 5 15 13
176 JASON KILPATRICK SATSUMA, AL 5 10 9 2 5 1 15 10
177 TOM MANN JR BUFORD, GA 5 8 7 4 7 2 15 9
178 DANNY PIERCE GREENBRIER, AR 5 8 2 4 7 7 15 9
179 JACK GADLAGE BENTON, KY 5 10 3 3 5 3 15 6
180 RICKY SHUMPERT LEXINGTON, SC 5 7 4 5 8 1 15 5
181 LEE BAILEY JR BOAZ, AL 4 4 10 5 10 9 15 3
182 BILLY BOWEN JR OCALA, FL 5 10 10 2 4 4 14 14
183 DAVID SMITH DEL CITY, OK 5 10 2 3 4 8 14 10
184 MIKE LEBLANC COLCHESTER, VT 5 10 12 3 3 12 14 8
185 DALE EVANS RIDGEVILLE, SC 3 6 10 5 7 14 14 8
186 RUSS MORAN MURFREESBORO, TN 2 3 14 5 10 7 14 5
187 JAMES A PARKER FAYETTEVILLE, NC 5 9 7 4 4 13 14 4
188 BERNIE SCHULTZ GAINESVILLE, FL 5 9 13 2 4 4 14 1
189 TERRY TUCKER GADSDEN, AL 3 5 5 5 8 4 13 9
190 TRAVIS ADAMS DANIELSVILLE, GA 2 4 9 5 8 14 13 7
191 AARON MARTENS LEEDS, AL 3 4 4 5 8 2 12 6
192 MIKE SURMAN BOCA RATON, FL 5 9 6 2 2 15 12 5
193 RICK MARSH HIGH POINT, NC 5 12 2 0 0 0 12 2
194 MARK PACK MINEOLA, TX 3 6 13 3 5 3 12 0
195 ALLEN CAUTHEN LANCASTER, SC 5 10 13 0 0 0 10 13
196 CHAD COOK SUMMERVILLE, SC 5 9 11 0 0 0 9 11
197 JERRY GREEN JUSTICEBURG, TX 5 9 5 0 0 0 9 5
198 TERRY BAKSAY MONROE, CT 5 9 1 0 0 0 9 1
199 JAMES QUILLMAN PLANO, TX 5 8 4 0 0 0 8 4
200 LLOYD T PICKETT JR BARTLETT, TN 2 3 8 2 3 12 7 4
 

Day 3: Ike on Top After Three

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LAPLATA, Md. - Mike Iaconelli of Runnemede, N.J., caught a five-bass limit weighing 21 pounds Friday to lead the $1.25 million Chevy Open presented by Kellogg's on the Potomac River. At stake are a $200,000 top award, qualification for the Forrest L. Wood Championship and the coveted Land O'Lakes Angler of the Year title, which will go to either Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La., or Toshinari Namiki of Hachioji-City, Japan.
Hackney held a seven-point lead over Namiki coming into the tournament, so if he finishes at least six places ahead of Namiki on Saturday he will win the title. Hackney is currently in 10th place with five bass weighing 10 pounds, 10 ounces and Namiki is ninth with five bass weighing 12 pounds.
"I'm going to pull my pants up and fish a little harder tomorrow," said Hackney, who finished second in both the FLW and Bassmaster tour points last season.
Iaconelli, a former Bassmaster Classic champion who could surpass $1 million in career winnings with a victory here, caught the majority of his bass using a Berkley Sinking Minnow in watermelon color with black flakes.
"It was one of those days when everything went perfect," Iaconelli said. "I love this place. Some of my first tournaments were here in the early 1990s in the BFL. To come back here 10 years later as a pro on the FLW Tour is awesome. If you're fishing the FLW Tour, you're fishing against the best anglers in the world. It's a great organization, and I love these events.
"The fishing will be tougher tomorrow. There will be more boats on the water and other tournaments. But you have to forget about today and fish like you're starting from zero."
Kellogg's pro Clark Wendlandt of Cedar Park, Texas, caught five bass weighing 17 pounds, 4 to secure the No. 2 spot heading into the final day of competition, while fellow Kellogg's pro Sam Newby of Pocola, Okla., caught five bass weighing 14 pounds, 14 ounces to grab the No. 3 spot.
Pro Gary Yamamoto of Mineola, Texas (five bass, 14 pounds, 13 ounces) and Land O'Lakes pro Jerry Williams of Conway, Ark. (five bass, 14 pounds, 12 ounces) round out the top five pros.
Namiki, Williams and Wendlandt have all earned four top-10 finishes in a single season - Namiki this year, Williams in 1998 and Wendlandt in 1999 and 2000. Only Denny Brauer of Camdenton, Mo., has earned more top 10s in a single season (five in 1998).
Pat Wilson of Penngrove, Calif., took top honors and $40,000 in the Co-angler Division with five bass weighing 14 pounds, 6 ounces. He caught the fish on drop-shot rigged 4- and 6-inch Robo Worms while fishing with pro Gary Yamamoto of Mineola, Texas.
"At about 1:30 p.m., I only had two keepers," said Wilson, who has earned 12 top-10s in Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League and EverStart Series competition. "Then I caught a 5-pounder, and Gary said I needed to get a limit because I had a chance to win. So he pulled up on a spot, put his rod down on the deck and quit fishing. I was able to finish my limit. I only caught six keepers, but they were quality fish."
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Jason Cordiale of Orinda, Calif. (five bass, 12 pounds, $20,000); Kent McPhail of Lubbock, Texas (five bass, 11 pounds, 12 ounces, $10,000); Roger Hester of Walnut Cove, N.C. (five bass, 10 pounds, 9 ounces, $9,000); and Fred Martin of North Little Rock, Ark. (five bass, 9 pounds, 13 ounces, $8,000).
Anglers will take off Saturday from Smallwood State Park in Marbury at 6:30 a.m. followed by the final weigh-in at the Wal-Mart store located at 40 Drury Drive in LaPlata beginning at 3 p.m.
The community is invited to join the world's top bass anglers as they celebrate the FLW Tour's 10th anniversary in the Family Fun Zone Saturday outside the weigh-in tent in the Wal-Mart parking lot. The Family Fun Zone opens at 11 a.m. Saturday and features interactive displays, product samples and games for the entire family to enjoy.
Tom Arnold and Chris Rose made a special appearance in the Family Fun Zone from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday for a special taping of the FSN hit "Best Damn Sports Show Period," which will air tonight at 10:30 p.m. Arnold and Rose interviewed FLW Tour anglers Jimmy Houston, J.T. Kenney, Chad Grigsby and Kim Bain.
Monte Burke, author of "Sowbelly, the Obsessive Quest for the World Record Largemouth Bass," was also in the Fun Zone Friday autographing copies of his new hit book.
The pros will continue competition Saturday, with the winner determined by the heaviest two-day weight. Pros finishing as low as 50th place earn $10,000.
Only the top 48 pros and top 48 co-anglers in the Land O'Lakes Angler of the Year points race following this event will advance to the Forrest L. Wood Championship July 13-16 in Hot Springs, Ark., on Lake Hamilton. The $1.5 million championship presented by Castrol awards the winning pro $500,000 cash, the sport's largest payout, and features a world-class outdoor show. Pros earn a minimum of $15,000 just for qualifying.
Complete coverage of the Chevy Open presented by Kellogg's will be broadcast to 82 million FSN subscribers as part of the "Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors" television program July 24 and 31. "Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors" airs Sundays at 11 a.m. Eastern time. Additionally, "Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors" is broadcast by the American Forces Network to 800,000 service men and women stationed around the world in 177 countries and aboard naval ships. Saturday's final weigh-in will also be broadcast live to Wal-Mart stores nationwide by the Wal-Mart Television Network.
 

Rank Name         Hometown     Bass Weight
1 MICHAEL IACONELLI RUNNEMEDE, NJ 5 21 0
2 CLARK WENDLANDT CEDAR PARK, TX 5 17 4
3 SAM NEWBY POCOLA, OK 5 14 14
4 GARY Y YAMAMOTO MINEOLA, TX 5 14 13
5 JERRY WILLIAMS CONWAY, AR 5 14 12
6 GEORGE E COCHRAN HOT SPRINGS NP, AR 5 13 4
7 CARL SVEBEK III SILOAM SPRINGS, AR 5 12 10
8 BRENT CHAPMAN LAKE QUIVIRA, KS 5 12 2
9 TOSHINARI NAMIKI HACHIOJI- CITY, TO 5 12 0
10 GREG HACKNEY GONZALES, LA 5 10 10

Day 4: Ike Wins Potomac Open

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LAPLATA, Md. – Mike Iaconelli of Runnemede, N.J., landed his first Wal-Mart FLW Tour win in grand fashion Saturday with a two-day, final-round total of 10 bass weighing 34 pounds, 14 ounces. The former Bassmaster Classic champion earned $200,000 in the Chevy Open presented by Kellogg’s after topping Kellogg’s pro Clark Wendlandt of Cedar Park, Texas, by nearly 5 pounds.

“Today was a struggle,” said Iaconelli, who got his start in competitive bass fishing in the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League, where he earned eight top-10s between 1996 and 1998. “I went to my best spot first, and there were two things working against me. First, there were four or five boats from a local tournament fishing in that area and a lot of spectator boats. That muddied the water a little. The other thing that hurt me was different tide. I caught three keepers in that area but it was slow. The memory of yesterday’s 21-pound limit kept telling me to stay, but my instinct was telling me to go.

“Then I remembered a good high-tide spot up a creek that I found about seven or eight years ago in the first BFL I ever fished as a boater. So I ran to that spot and caught my two best fish. I was using a spinning reel with 10-pound-test Berkley Vanish and throwing the same bait I used yesterday, a 6-inch Berkley Sinking Minnow in watermelon color with black flakes.”

Iaconelli opened the tournament with a five-bass limit weighing 18 pounds, 12 ounces to place third. He then added five bass weighing 14 pounds, 13 ounces to his total Thursday to enter the final round as the No. 2 seed with 10 bass weighing 33 pounds, 9 ounces.

On Friday Iaconelli landed the heaviest limit of the tournament – 21 pounds – to move into the No. 1 spot on the leaderboard and open a 3-pound, 12-ounce lead over Wendlandt.

“I had one of those amazing days yesterday when everything went perfect,” Iaconelli said. “I was using light line, and those big keepers were a great fight.”

Although not 21-pound limit, Saturday was more of the same, as Iaconelli added five bass weighing 13 pounds, 14 ounces to his total.

Wendlandt, who has earned 18 top-10s and two Land O’ Lakes Angler of the Year titles on the FLW Tour, earned $100,000 for finishing second with a final-round total of 10 bass weighing 30 pounds, 5 ounces. The winnings bumped Wendlandt to the top of the FLW Tour’s all-time leading money winners list with $994,750.

“I had a great day today” Wendlandt said. “A 5-pounder hit the bait, and I missed it, and a 4-pounder flashed at the bait right at the boat. But that’s fishing. My areas actually cleared up the last two days, and my fish didn’t set up as well. I was fishing better with more stained water. I used a 4-inch green tube and a shallow-running homemade crankbait in shad and chartreuse colors. I really like using crankbaits in shallow cover.”

Land O’Lakes pro Jerry Williams of Conway, Ark. (10 bass, 30 pounds, 1 ounce, $50,000); Land O’Lakes Angler of Year Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La. (10 bass, 27 pounds, 9 ounces, $40,000); and Toshinari Namiki of Hachioji-City, Japan (10 bass, 25 pounds, 12 ounces, $30,000) rounded out the top five pros.

All 10 pro finalists caught five-bass limits Saturday and 98 percent of the fish were released alive. With six tournaments now complete, FLW Outdoors has maintained a live release rate in excess of 98 percent on the FLW Tour. If the average release rate stays above 98 percent throughout the entire season, Energizer will donate $25,000 to the Children’s Miracle Network.

Pat Wilson of Penngrove, Calif., took top honors and $40,000 in the Co-angler Division Friday with five bass weighing 14 pounds, 6 ounces. He caught the fish on drop-shot rigged 4- and 6-inch Robo Worms while fishing with pro Gary Yamamoto of Mineola, Texas.

Jason Cordiale of Orinda, Calif. (five bass, 12 pounds, $20,000); Kent McPhail of Lubbock, Texas (five bass, 11 pounds, 12 ounces, $10,000); Roger Hester of Walnut Cove, N.C. (five bass, 10 pounds, 9 ounces, $9,000); and Fred Martin of North Little Rock, Ark. (five bass, 9 pounds, 13 ounces, $8,000) rounded out the top five co-anglers.

The two-day opening round catch of 3,201 bass weighing 7,084 pounds, 1 ounce was the tour’s third best of all time in terms of bass caught and weight. Only Lake Champlain in New York produced more fish in 2004 (3,457 bass, 8,239 pounds, 11 ounces) and 2002 (3,233 bass, 7,865 pounds, 8 ounces). Most of the bass weighed in on Lake Champlain were smallmouths, while the Potomac River produced largemouths, earning a place among the nation’s best largemouth bass fisheries for Charles County.

In addition to a top award of $200,000 and cash awards of $10,000 through 50th place in the Pro Division, anglers were also competing this week for valuable points that determined the Land O’ Lakes Angler of the Year standings and the field of 48 pros and 48 co-anglers for the 2005 Forrest L. Wood Championship, set for July 13-16 in Hot Springs, Ark., on Lake Hamilton. The $1.5 million championship presented by Castrol awards the winning pro $500,000 cash, the sport’s largest payout, and features a world-class outdoor show.

Hackney earned the Land O’Lakes Angler of the Year title over Namiki in one of the closest title finishes in history.

Complete coverage of the Chevy Open presented by Kellogg’s will be broadcast to 82 million FSN subscribers as part of the “Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors” television program July 24 and 31. “Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors” airs Sundays at 11 a.m. Eastern time. Additionally, “Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors” is broadcast by the American Forces Network to 800,000 service men and women stationed around the world in 177 countries and aboard naval ships.

 

Rank Name Hometown Day 3 Bass Day 3 Weight Bass Weight Total Weight Winnings
1 MICHAEL IACONELLI RUNNEMEDE, NJ 5 21 0 5 13 14 34 14 200000.00
2 CLARK WENDLANDT CEDAR PARK, TX 5 17 4 5 13 1 30 5 100000.00
3 JERRY WILLIAMS CONWAY, AR 5 14 12 5 15 5 30 1 50000.00
4 GREG HACKNEY GONZALES, LA 5 10 10 5 16 15 27 9 40000.00
5 TOSHINARI NAMIKI HACHIOJI- CITY, TO 5 12 0 5 13 12 25 12 30000.00
6 SAM NEWBY POCOLA, OK 5 14 14 5 10 3 25 1 28000.00
7 GEORGE E COCHRAN HOT SPRINGS NP, AR 5 13 4 5 10 8 23 12 26000.00
8 GARY Y YAMAMOTO MINEOLA, TX 5 14 13 5 7 5 22 2 24000.00
9 BRENT CHAPMAN LAKE QUIVIRA, KS 5 12 2 5 9 14 22 0 22000.00
10 CARL SVEBEK III SILOAM SPRINGS, AR 5 12 10 3 5 7 18 1 20000.00
 

Articles and photos from FLW Outdoors

Compiled by Brandon Shook