CELEBRATION, Fla. — With the conclusion of the Bassmaster Elite Series Southern Challenge presented by Purolator, BASS has finalized the 51-angler field for the Bassmaster American presented by Advance Auto Parts — the first of three Bassmaster Majors in 2007 — set for May 17-20 in Greensboro, N.C.
Heading into the April 26-29 Southern Challenge on Alabama's Lake Guntersville, only three anglers had cemented their status as participants in the Bassmaster American: 2007 Bassmaster Classic champion Boyd Duckett; 2006 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year Mike Iaconelli; and Dave Wolak, the defending champion of the Bassmaster American.
The other 48 anglers qualified at the culmination of the Guntersville Elite event. They include the top 47 anglers in combined Angler of the Year standings over the past two years, plus the leader in the Toyota Rookie of the Year race, Derek Remitz of Madison, Ala.
Coverage of the Bassmaster American presented by Advance Auto Parts can be seen on ESPN2 Saturday, May 26 at 9 a.m. ET.
"Anytime you're fishing for a $250,000 grand prize, you have to be pleased," said California's Skeet Reese, who currently is first in the 2007 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings. "I am looking forward to Greensboro. It should be a fantastic venue."
Anglers will fish High Rock Lake the first two days of competition. After the field is cut to the top 12 anglers for the third day of competition, the tournament will move to Lake Townsend and a six-hole course. The final day of action will also be on Lake Townsend, but with only the top six competing.
The American is in honor of the late Bryan Kerchal, BASS' first and only Federation Nation angler to win the Bassmaster Classic. Kerchal won in 1994.
A complete list of Bassmaster American qualifying anglers is below.
Daily weigh-ins will be at the Greensboro Convention Complex starting at 4:30 p.m. CT. Daily tournament launches will begin at 7 a.m. from Abbots Creek for the first two days of competition and will move to the Lake Townsend Marina for the final two days of competition.
Additionally, www.ESPNOutdoors.com will have complete coverage, including live video of the weigh-ins, a real-time leaderboard, and analysis.
Bassmaster Majors Sponsors: Sponsors of the Bassmaster Majors include Toyota Tundra, Purolator, Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Berkley, Advance Auto Parts, Lowrance Electronics, MotorGuide, Costa Del Mar, Ramada Worldwide and Evan Williams Bourbon.
For more information, contact BASS Communications at (407) 566-2208 or visit www.bassmaster.com.
BASS is the worldwide authority on bass fishing, sanctioning more than 20,000 events through the BASS Federation Nation annually. Guided by its mission to serve all fishing fans, BASS sets the standard for credibility, professionalism, sportsmanship and conservation, as it has for nearly 40 years.
BASS stages bass fishing tournaments for every skill level and culminates with the Bassmaster Classic. Through its clubs, youth programs, aquatic resource advocacy, magazine publishing and multimedia platforms, BASS offers the industry's widest array of services and support to its nearly 530,000 members. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.
2007 Bassmaster Majors
May 17-20 Bassmaster American, High Rock Lake Greensboro, N.C.
July 26-29 Bassmaster Memorial, Oneida Lake Syracuse, N.Y.
Aug. 23-26 Bassmaster Legends, Arkansas River Little Rock, Ark.
2007 MAJORS QUALIFIERS
After Guntersville, AL ending 04-29-2007, Day 3
2007 Classic Champion: Boyd Duckett
2006 Angler of the Year: Michael Iaconelli
2007 Rookie of the Year Leader: Derek Remitz
2006 Bassmaster American Champion: Dave Wolak
Top 47 2006,2007 Angler of the Year Combined Standings
Place Angler Name Total 2 Day Weight
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1. Kevin VanDam 5 524-15
2. Skeet Reese 8 537-00
3. Steve Kennedy 11 520-04
4. Aaron Martens 12 510-04
5. Jared Lintner 21 497-14
6. Kelly Jordon 24 505-11
7. Tommy Biffle 25 494-12
7. Gerald Swindle 25 486-09
9. Dean Rojas 32 517-15
10. Mike McClelland 33 487-12
10. Alton Jones 33 479-01
12. Kevin Wirth 38 505-02
13. Jeff Kriet 39 474-01
14. Ishama Monroe 41 465-12
15. Todd Faircloth 42 470-03
16. Terry Scroggins 44 492-01
17. Jason Quinn 47 507-07
18. John Murray 48 470-02
19. John Crews 50 492-14
20. Edwin Evers 53 490-13
21. Timmy Horton 55 472-07
22. Peter Thliveros 57 463-09
22. Scott Rook 57 454-06
24. Greg Hackney 58 482-11
25. Brent Chapman 59 446-15
26. Jeff Reynolds 60 472-02
27. Gary Klein 65 469-08
27. Stephen Browning 65 446-06
29. Russ Lane 66 483-06
30. Randy Howell 70 422-08
31. Denny Brauer 75 458-08
32. Fred Roumbanis 76 435-02
32. Paul Elias 76 427-15
32. Chris Lane 76 411-11
35. Mark Tucker 78 438-04
36. Greg Gutierrez 80 448-01
37. Takahiro Omori 84 449-00
38. Matt Reed 85 462-12
39. Brian Snowden 90 418-00
40. Shaw Grigsby, Jr 91 419-12
41. Bill Lowen 92 452-11
41. Mark Menendez 92 428-12
43. Lee Bailey 94 432-00
44. Davy Hite 95 445-04
44. Ray Sedgwick 95 420-13
46. Zell Rowland 97 445-01
47. Mike Wurm 98 447-07