Schultz grabs lead; Elias flames out
FLW Championship race tightens up as top-10 finalists prepare for Friday’s battle
SHREVEPORT, La. – And then there were 10.
In one of the closest top-10 finishes in recent memory, Bernie Schultz of Gainesville, Fla., grabbed the overall lead in the Pro Division on the pivotal second day of the Wal-Mart FLW Tour Championship with a two-day total catch of 25 pounds, 13 ounces. Pro Larry Nixon of Bee Branch, Ark., finished in second place with a catch of 24 pounds, 14 ounces. Tommy Biffle of Wagoner, Okla. leapfrogged from 22nd place to third overall in the pro standings with a two-day catch of 24 pounds, 13 ounces.
Forty of the top 50 pros and 40 of the top 50 co-anglers were eliminated after today’s competition.
Although there was nearly a 7-pound difference between the top 10 pro anglers after day one, only 2 pounds, 14 ounces separated the top-10 finalists after Thursday’s competition – making it one of the tightest championship groupings in years.
Schultz, who moved up from second to first place on Thursday, agreed that the $250,000 championship prize is up for grabs due to the competitive nature of the remaining field.
“It feels great to be in this position, but the fact of the matter is that we all start over tomorrow,” said Schultz, referring to round two, where everyone starts over at zero. “I’ve got myself in position to win, but there are a lot of great anglers and this is a really tough field. Tomorrow is going to be an anxious day.”
However, the big story of the tournament thus far might very well be the angler who didn’t make the top 10 at all. Despite catching 18 pounds, 4 ounces on the first day of competition, opening-day leader Paul Elias of Pachuta, Miss., only managed 4 pounds, 9 ounces on day two – a result which dropped him out of the top 10 in the Pro Division by a mere two 2 ounces. Elias finished in 11th place.
“I really feel bad for Paul,” said Carl Svebek, who finished eighth overall in the Pro Division with a two-day catch of 23 pounds, 3 ounces to advance to Friday’s round of 10. “It’s tough. But it just goes to show you that anything can happen. This is a very tough sport.”
Co-Angler Division leaders hold on to top positions
In the Co-Angler Division, opening-day leader Tom Hunley of Stamping Ground, Ky., maintained his grip on first place with a two-day catch of 18 pounds, 3 ounces – easily outdistancing his competition for a second consecutive day.
“It feels good to be here, but anything can happen tomorrow,” said Hunley. “I need this tournament bad. I need it so bad I can taste it. But there are a lot of other guys just as hungry as I am. I’m just going to get some rest and do a lot of praying.”
Marc Levesque of Waterbury, Conn., maintained his hold on second place in the overall standings in the Co-Angler Division with a two-day catch of 15 pounds, 9 ounces.
“It’s great to be here. It’s a national tournament and there’s lots of great competition,” said Levesque, who qualified for the championship during the very last FLW tournament of the year in Florence, Ala. “But I’m a low-key guy and I know that I have my work cut out for me. I’ve been practicing hard, I’ve braved the heat and I just need to keep on going. This is truly and endurance sport. And hopefully I’ll be there in the end.”
Unlike the Pro Division which will be decided on Saturday, the Co-Angler champion will be crowned tomorrow. First prize in the Co-Angler Division is $25,000 and an automatic berth in the FLW Pro Division.
Rounding out the top-10 in the Co-Angler field were Pat Fisher of Stone Mountain, Ga., (third place) with a two-day catch of 14 pounds, 14 ounces; Rodney Chmolack of Phenix, Ala., (fourth) with a catch of 13 pounds, 11 ounces; Mike Cooper (fifth) of Branson, Mo., with a catch of 13 pounds, 4 ounces; Curtis Thompson of Baytown, Texas, (sixth) with a catch of 12 pounds, 10 ounces; Tommy Szwankowski of Hope, Ark. (seventh) with a catch of 12 pounds, 4 ounces; Homer Stephens of Noblesville, Ind., (eighth) with a catch of 12 pounds, 3 ounces; Ken Golub of Pittsford, N.Y. (ninth) with a catch of 12 pounds, 3 ounces and Andy Heinkelein of Cincinnati, Ohio, (tenth) with a catch of 12 pounds, 1 ounce.
Co-angler Quinten Stacy of Bassett, VA., took home $5,000 for winning the Coca Cola Big Bass award which recognizes the angler who caught the biggest bass of the year. Stacy landed a bass weighing 8 pounds, 10 ounces last March on Lake Murray, S.C., to win the prize.
Pros gear up for crunch time
Although the remaining anglers believe the competition is tough, all have their eyes on one thing – the $250,000 first-place prize.
“My goal is make the top five tomorrow,” said Nixon. “I know where the fish are and they are big enough for me to win. They just have to bite. If they do, I think I can win this thing.”
Svebek, who placed fifth overall in the ESPN Great Outdoor Games bass fishing competition last July, says he plans on running a good 70 to 80 miles tomorrow in the hopes of taking the next big step to Saturday’s final.
“I was sweating it out today but I’m tickled to death to be in my first top-10 FLW Championship,” Svebek said. “I have a spot a long ways away that I’m planning to use. I had success there about 8 years ago and I hope it comes through for me again.”
In addition to Schultz, Nixon, Biffle and Svebek, the remaining top-10 standings in the Pro Division broke down as follows: Darrel Robertson of Jay, Okla. (fourth place) with a two-day catch of 24 pounds, 6 ounces; Rick Clunn of Ava, Mo., (fifth) with a catch of 23 pounds, 14 ounces; Dion Hibdon of Stover, Mo. (sixth) with a catch of 23 pounds, 14 ounces; David Fritts of Lexington, N.C. (seventh) with a catch of 23 pounds, 12 ounces; Rick Gasaway of Kennesaw, Georgia, (ninth) with a catch of 23 pounds and Craig Powers of Rockwood, Tenn., (tenth) with a catch of 22 pounds, 15 ounces.
Friday’s weigh-in is scheduled to take place at 5 p.m. under the FLW tent in the Wal-Mart parking lot. Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. championship weigh-in will be broadcast live in Wal-Mart stores throughout the country.
Click for results, tournament news and Quick Bites: Day 2.