CITGO Bassmaster TOUR Presented by Busch Beer
California Delta (April 10-13)
News from the Tour (event 8 of 10)
CLEARLAKE, Calif. - April 8, 2003 - The CITGO Bassmaster Tour presented by Busch
Beer continues its historic first-ever trip to California with a visit to Clear
Lake.
The first event of the two-tournament west coast swing saw Robert Lee win his
fourth straight event on the San Joaquin Delta. Lee's amazing accomplishment is
unprecedented in BASS history.
Clear Lake has seen its share of history in BASS events, particularly Byron
Velvick hauling in 83 pounds, 5 ounces during a three-day tournament to set the
BASS record for a three-day event. Fans could be in for more
record-setting action this year, with many anglers predicting record-setting
catches.
Additionally, the event on Clear Lake is a Showdown event that will see the
weights of the anglers reset following the cut to 12 on Friday. The 12 pros and
amateurs will then fish a series of six links style "holes" during
Saturday's semifinal round. Just the Super Six pros will compete in Sunday's
final round.
TELEVISION
The event from Clear Lake will be telecast on ESPN2 in two parts, part one airs
April 19th at 10:30 a.m. (ET) and part two will air on April 26 at 10:30 a.m.
UP NEXT
This is the eighth event of 10 on the 2003 CITGO Bassmaster Tour schedule.
The next event takes place May 1-4 in Hot Springs, Ark.
Schedule of Events for California CITGO Bassmaster Tour Event
Registration Wed., April 9, 4:00 p.m.
Clearlake Senior/ Community Center
Briefing Wed., April 9, 6:30 p.m.
Clearlake Senior/ Community Center
First day launch Thurs., April 10, 5:45 a.m.
Red Bud Park
Day 1 weigh-in Thurs., April 10, 2:30 p.m.
Red Bud Park
BASS Sponsor Expo Fri., April 11, Noon to 6
Red Bud Park
Day 2 weigh-in and cut Fri., April 11, 2:30 p.m.
Red Bud Park
BASS Sponsor Expo Sat., April 12, 10 to 6
Red Bud Park
CastingKids Sat., April 12, 10:30-1:30
Red Bud Park
Day 3 weigh-in and cut Sat., April 12, 3:30 p.m.
Red Bud Park
BASS Sponsor Expo Sun., April 13, 10 to 6
Red Bud Park
Day 4 weigh-in Sun., April 13, 3:30 p.m.
Red Bud Park
ORIGINS OF THE TOUR
While BASS has conducted tournaments since 1967, records for the CITGO
Bassmaster Tour presented by Busch Beer begin with the 1994-95 season, as that
was the first year the pro-am tournaments earned points toward the Busch BASS
Angler of the Year award. The CITGO Bassmaster Tournament Trail, which
comprises the CITGO Bassmaster Tour and the CITGO Bassmaster Open circuits, is
the world's most prestigious tournament series.
There have been 44 different winners on the CITGO Bassmaster Tour.
Interestingly, of the five winners this season, while all but Edwin Evers had
claimed BASS wins previously (Gary Klein 7; David Wharton, 3; Terry Scroggins, 1
and Skeet Reese, 1), none had claimed a Tour victory prior to this year.
POINTS RACE FOR BUSCH BASS ANGLER OF THE YEAR
Pros will be competing for valuable Busch BASS Angler of the Year points
throughout the 2003 season. Points are awarded based on each angler's
finish in an event, with 175 points awarded to the first-place angler and one
fewer point as positions descend. An angler must catch at least one bass to earn
points.
BUSCH BASS Angler of the Year point Standings (following 7 events)
001 Bud Pruitt
Texas 991
002 Roger Boler
La. 975
003 Kevin VanDam
Mich. 974
004 Alton Jones
Texas 965
004 Jay Yelas
Texas 965
006 Mark Davis
Ark. 957
007 Shaw E Grigsby, Jr Fla.
953
008 Mike Wurm
Ark. 952
009 John Murray
Ariz. 951
010 Zell Rowland
Texas 935
011 Elton Luce Jr. Texas
928
012 Mark Kile
Ariz. 927
013 Brent Chapman Kan.
924
014 Dustin Wilks
N.C. 897
015 Jeff Reynolds Okla.
893
016 Gary Klein
Texas 891
016 Mike Reynolds Calif.
891
018 Kelly Jordon
Texas 890
019 Skeet Reese
Calif. 885
020 Harold Allen
Texas 871
021 Todd Faircloth Texas
854
022 Ishama Monroe Calif.
852
022 Tom Mann, Jr. Ga.
852
024 Jay Kendrick
Tenn. 836
025 Jeff Kriet
Okla. 831
025 Jack L. Wade
Tenn. 831
027 Jim Bitter
Fla. 820
028 Edwin Evers
Okla. 819
029 Ron Shuffield Ark.
800
029 Roland Martin Fla.
800
031 Chad Morgenthaler Ill.
799
032 Randy Howell
Ala. 794
033 Kevin Wirth
Ky. 786
034 Curt Lytle
Va. 784
035 Tim Horton
Ala. 779
036 Peter E. Thliveros Fla.
777
037 Lance Vick
Texas 772
038 David Wharton Texas
770
039 Mark Tyler
Calif. 757
039 Takahiro Omori Texas
757
039 Stacey D. King Mo.
757
042 Tommy Stiles
Tenn. 752
043 Mark Menendez Ky.
748
043 Terry Scroggins Fla.
748
045 Jimmy D. Mize Ark.
738
045 Joe Thomas
Ohio 738
047 Pete Ponds
Miss. 737
047 Gerald Swindle Ala.
737
049 Kenyon Hill
Okla. 736
050 Guy H. Eaker
N.C. 735
051 Ben Matsubu
Texas 733
052 Matt Reed
Texas 729
053 Stephen Browning Ark.
727
054 Dalton Bobo
Ala. 718
055 Woo Daves
Va. 714
056 Mike Auten
Ky. 713
057 Allen Armour Ga.
711
057 J. T. Kenney Md.
711
059 O. T. Fears III Okla.
696
060 Brian Snowden Mo.
682
061 George Cochran Ark.
679
062 Tim Loper
Miss. 678
063 Ken Cook
Okla. 664
064 Robert Hamilton Jr. Miss.
663
065 Mark Rogers
Fla. 662
066 Gary Yamamoto Texas
661
067 Dennis Kolender Calif.
656
068 Koby Kreiger
Fla. 655
069 Paul L Elias
Miss. 653
070 Jack A. Gadlage Nev.
651
070 Brett Hite
Ariz. 651
072 Tom Biffle
Okla. 640
073 Rick Morris
Va. 631
073 Bernie Schultz Fla.
631
075 Rick Taylor
Mich. 627
076 Marty Stone
N.C. 625
077 Denny Brauer Mo.
623
078 Todd Auten
S.C. 618
078 Luke Clausen
Wash. 618
080 Jimmy Reese
Calif. 617
081 Jason Barber
Texas 613
082 Ray Sedgwick
S.C. 610
083 Kyle Mabrey
Ala. 607
084 Casey Iwai
Ariz. 598
085 Shonn Blassingame Texas
597
086 Charlie Weyer Calif.
591
087 Warren Wyman
Calif. 590
088 Dean Rojas
Texas 582
089 Danny Kirk
Ga. 578
090 Robert Lee
Calif. 575
090 Kotaro Kiriyama N.J.
575
092 Chad Brauer
Mo. 555
092 Randall R Romig Pa.
555
094 Yusuke Miyazaki Texas
551
095 Michael Iaconelli N.J.
549
096 Jason Quinn
S.C. 548
097 David Fritts
N.C. 547
098 Byron Velvick Nev.
528
099 Charles Hammack Texas
525
100 Charlie Hartley Ohio
524
CITGO INCENTIVE PROGRAMS
CITGO Rookie of the Year award
Newcomers to the Tour this season have the opportunity to earn not only a
$10,000 bonus, but also the title of CITGO Rookie of the Year. CITGO will reward
the Tour's top newcomer based on final standing in the Busch BASS Angler of the
Year program at the 2003 CITGO Bassmasters Classic.
Mark Kile of Arizona leads the race for the CITGO Rookie of the Year award.
2003 CITGO Rookie of the Year Standings (After 7 events)
1. Mark Kile Ariz. 927
2. Jeff Reynolds Okla. 893
3. Mike Reynolds Calif. 891
4. Jay Kendrick Tenn. 836
5. Chad Morgenthaler Ill. 799
6. Lance Vick Texas 772
7. Terry Scroggins Fla. 748
8. Pete Ponds Miss. 737
9. Matt Reed Texas 729
10. J.T. Kenney Md. 711
CITGO Horizon Award
At the conclusion of the 2003 season, CITGO will reward the angler that posts
the greatest improvement over the 2002 season. During the festivities
surrounding the CITGO Bassmasters Classic this August in New Orleans, the
winning angler will receive a check for $25,000.
2003 CITGO Horizon Award Standings (After 7 events)
Place Angler State Improvement from 2002
1. Wade, Jack Tenn. 100
2. Omori, Takahiro Texas 99
2. Boler, Roger La. 99
2. Bitter, Jim Fla. 99
5. Tyler, Mark Calif. 93
6. Loper, Tim Miss. 92
7. Lytle, Curt Va. 87
8. Grigsby, Shaw Fla. 82
9. Stiles, Tommy Tenn. 76
10. Monroe, Ishama Ariz. 67
THE LAST TIME OUT
California's Robert Lee became the first angler in BASS history to win four
consecutive events on one fishery by weighing in a four-day total of 86 pounds,
8 ounces on the San Joaquin Delta near Stockton, Calif.
SEASON SUPERLATIVES
HEAVIEST WINNING WEIGHT
Zell Rowland Santee Cooper Lakes (S.C.) 98-9
HEAVIEST BASS WEIGHED IN
Jay Yelas Lake Seminole (Ga.) 10-4
LARGEST ONE-DAY CATCH
Ray Sedgwick Day 1 Santee Cooper (S.C.) 31-2
HEAVIEST TOTAL WEIGHT TOURNAMENT (FIELD)
Santee Cooper Lakes (S.C.) 4,971-4
MOST NUMBER OF LIMITS (FIELD)
Lake Okeechobee (Fla.) 227
MOST NUMBER OF BASS CAUGHT (FIELD)
Lake Okeechobee (Fla.) 1,492
BASS IN CALIFORNIA
BASS has previously conducted nine events in California including two on
Clear Lake. This is the second of two BASS events on the Tour's West Coast
swing.
THE LAST TIME IN CALIFORNIA
Aaron Martens claimed victory in the CITGO Bassmaster Western Open on Clear Lake
in BASS' last visit to the Golden State in April of 2002. Interestingly, that
event had the distinction of being the final draw style tournament in BASS
history where two pros fished together out of the same boat.
IF I HAD A MILLION DOLLARS
Gary Klein recently became the seventh member of the BASS Millionaires Club when
he won the CITGO Bassmaster Tour event on Lake Seminole. Other members of the
elite group include Denny Brauer, Rick Clunn, Larry Nixon, Shaw Grigsby, Kevin
VanDam and Jay Yelas.
TOP 10 ALL-TIME MONEY WINNERS
1. Denny Brauer $1,650,652
2. Larry Nixon $1,521,734
3. Rick Clunn $1,513,170
4. Shaw Grigsby $1,183,655
5. Kevin VanDam $1,151,350
6. Jay Yelas $1,106,532
7. Gary Klein $1,074,444
8. Roland Martin $ 924,642
9. George Cochran $ 862,576
10. Ron Shuffield $ 853,996
BASS SPONSOR EXPO
A new component of the CITGO Bassmaster Tour events this season is the
interactive BASS Sponsor Expo area. Sponsors present exhibits, many of which are
interactive and provide an enjoyable experience for all family members. The
Expos are free to those attending and take place from noon until 6 p.m. on
Fridays; and from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at each Tour stop.
CASTINGKIDS
The Bassmaster CastingKids program presented by Chevy Trucks and CITGO will hold
a competition prior to Saturday's weigh-in. From 10:30 until 1:30, youngsters
ages 7-14 will have the opportunity to pitch, flip and cast a lure in this
popular program. Local winners will advance to state competition and state
winners will compete for valuable scholarships including a $5,000 scholarship to
the champions in both the 7-10 and 11-14 age groups.
The event will be conducted by the Chico Bassmasters. Members of the BASS
Federation will also be on hand to provide youngsters with instruction in the
proper techniques for flipping, pitching and casting.
CLASSIC QUALIFIERS
The following list of anglers have already qualified for this August's CITGO
Bassmaster Classic in New Orleans, La. through the CITGO Bassmaster Open series
which took place last fall.
>From the CITGO Bassmaster Northern Division:
Koby Kreiger, Indiana
Lee Bailey, Connecticut
Michael Iaconelli, New Jersey
Randall Romig, Pennsylvania
David LeFebre, Pennsylvania
>From the CITGO Bassmaster Central Division:
Greg Hackney, Louisiana
Edwin Evers, Oklahoma
Mike Gough, Florida
Homer Humphreys, Louisiana
Chad Morganthaler, Illinois
>From the CITGO Bassmaster Southern Division:
Jason Quinn, South Carolina
Wesley Strader, Tennessee
Todd Auten, South Carolina
Michael Johnson, Georgia
Tom Hamlin, Georgia
Additionally, if the reigning CITGO Bassmaster Classic Champion, Jay Yelas, and
the reigning Busch BASS Angler of the Year, Davy Hite, do not earn berths based
on their 2003 performance, they will receive automatic entry into the event.
2003 CITGO BASSMASTER TOUR SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Site: Harris Chain of Lakes - Leesburg, Fla.
Winner: Skeet Reese 15-2
Site: Lake Okeechobee - Okeechobee, Fla.
Winner: Terry Scroggins 62-2
Site: Lake Seminole - Bainbridge, Ga.
Winner: Gary Klein 69-15
Site: Toledo Bend Reservoir - Many, La.
Winner: David Wharton 32-6*
Site: Lake Eufaula - Eufaula, Ala.
Winner: Edwin Evers 73-5
Site: Santee Cooper Reservoir - Manning, S.C.
Winner: Zell Rowland 98-9
Site: San Joaquin River Delta - Stockton, Calif.
Winner: Robert Lee 86-8
Site: *Clear Lake - Clearlake, Calif.
Competition Days: April 10, 11, 12, 13, 2003
Practice Days: April 7, 8, 9, 2003
Site: Lake Hamilton - Hot Springs, Ark.
Competition Days: May 1, 2, 3, 4, 2003
Practice Days: April 28, 29, 30, 2003
Site: *Alabama River - Montgomery, Ala.
Competition Days: May 22, 23, 24, 25, 2003
Practice Days: May 19, 20, 21, 2003
*designates Showdown events
BASS ON THE INTERNET
For information and news about BASS events, www.bassmaster.com
is available to members of the media and the general public and provides daily
wrap-ups and standings from each event as well as schedules of events and other
BASS news.
BASS SPONSORS
Sponsors of the CITGO Bassmaster Tour presented by Busch Beer include CITGO
Petroleum Corp., Busch Beer, Chevrolet Trucks, Yamaha Outboards, Mercury Marine,
Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Lowrance Electronics, Flowmaster Exhaust Systems,
Kumho Tires, Progressive Boat Insurance, Abu Garcia, Berkley, Diamond Cut Jeans,
MotorGuide Trolling Motors, Bass Pro Shops, Armstrong Industrial Hand Tools, and
BASS Platinum Visa/First USA.
Associate Sponsors include Bass Cat Boats, G3 Boats and Bryant Heating and
Cooling.
Sponsored locally by the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce.
For additional information contact: BASS Communications at (334) 551-2375.