WHAT:
Major League Fishing announced today that pro Martin Villa of Charlottesville, Virginia, will replace Jacob Wheeler in this week’s Kubota Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops at Orange Lake in Ocala, Florida. The event, scheduled for May 16-21, and features 32 of the world’s top professional anglers competing for a $100,000 top prize and daily big-bass bonuses.
Wheeler has withdrawn from competition to be with his wife, Alicia, and their family following her recent cancer diagnosis. The entire Major League Fishing community sends its thoughts, prayers and support to Jacob, Alicia and the Wheeler family during this difficult time.
WHEN:
Saturday, May 16 – Thursday, May 21
NOTES:
The 16 anglers in Group A compete in their two-day qualifying round on Saturday and Monday – the 16 anglers in Group B on Sunday and Tuesday. After each two-day qualifying round is complete, the top eight anglers from both groups advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round weights are zeroed, and the remaining 16 anglers compete to finish in the Top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Thursday’s final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
In addition to overall tournament awards, Berkley Big Bass bonuses are awarded in each round of competition with payouts of $10,000 for the single biggest bass on each day of Group A and Group B Qualifying, $30,000 for the biggest bass in the Knockout Round and $100,000 for the biggest bass in the Championship Round.
The 32 anglers that will compete Kubota Heavy Hitters at Orange Lake Presented by Bass Pro Shops are:
Group A:
Brent Chapman, Lenexa, Kan.
Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn.
Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas
Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio
Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill.
Alton Jones Jr., Lorena, Texas
Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas
Jake Lawrence, Paris, Tenn.
Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La.
Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa.
Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala.
Colby Miller, Elmer, La.
Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich.
Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan
Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla.
Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C.
Group B:
Adrian Avena, Marmora, N.J.
Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn.
Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla.
Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La.
Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark.
Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif.
Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla.
Marshall Hughes, Hemphill, Texas
John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky.
Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas
Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla.
Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn.
Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif.
Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas
Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va.
The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on all six days of competition from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. MLFNOW! will be livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app, and Rumble.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram, Rumble and YouTube.