Jeanquart lands $75,000 in Co-angler Division
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Paul Meleen of Onamia, Minn., will lead six Pro Division anglers into the final round of the $1.4 million Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit Championship in Green Bay after landing five walleyes weighing 36 pounds, 5 ounces in Friday’s semi-final round to advance. The six finalists have a shot at winning up to $400,000 for a first place finish – the largest cash award in professional walleye fishing.
“I have a spot out in the big water all to myself,” said a confident Meleen, who came back from a disastrous first day in which he caught nothing. “If I can get to my water tomorrow and the weather stays the same, I can come away from this a winner.”
Rounding out the field for Saturday’s final round, along with their semifinal round catch, are: second place, Mark Keenan of Appleton, Wis., 28 pounds; third place, Tom Zollar of Green Bay, Wis., 25 pounds, 11 ounces; fourth place, Tom Keenan of Hatley, Wis., 22 pounds, 13 ounces; fifth place, Dean Arnoldussen of Kaukauna, Wis., 20 pounds; and sixth place, Patrick Neu of Forestville, Wis., 17 pounds, 9 ounces. The finalists will start with zero weight to their credit in the championship round.
Co-angler competition has ended, with Chris Jeanquart of Sturgean Bay, Wis., emerging as the winner earning $75,000 for his catch totaling 36 pounds, 5 ounces. Second place in the Co-angler Division went to Leo Schlauch of Suamico, Wis., with a catch of 28 pounds. The finish was worth $25,000.
Competition resumes at 7 a.m. Saturday at Metro Park Boat Launch on Bay Beach Road in Green Bay followed by the final weigh-in starting at 3 p.m. at the Green Bay Wal-Mart Supercenter located at 2440 West Mason Street.
Named after retail giant Wal-Mart and boat manufacturers Ranger, Crestliner and Lund, the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit is the world’s most lucrative walleye fishing series. With a purse of up to $1.4 million, the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit Championship is the richest walleye tournament in the history of the sport.
Competition started Wednesday on Green Bay with 192 pros and 192 co-anglers from more than a dozen states and Canada. Scott Glorvigen of Grand Rapids, Minn., won $300,000 and instantly joined the sport’s top all-time money winners in the inaugural Wal-Mart RCL Championship held last year on Green Bay.