2017 Costa FLW Series Championship Fact Sheet
The details on this week’s championship event
Nearly 400 anglers will compete this week on Kentucky Lake in the 2017 Costa FLW Series Championship out of Paris, Tenn. The three-day event spans Nov. 2-4, and in addition to a winning prize worth $95,000, which includes a Ranger Z518C with a 200-hp Evinrude outboard, there are 11 slots in the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup at stake.
Here’s a rundown of tournament details:
Where and when
The tournament takes place Nov. 2-4, 2017. Daily takeoffs will be held at Paris Landing State Park, 16055 Hwy 79 N, Paris, Tenn., at 7:30 a.m. CT, with weigh-ins at the same location each day at 3:30 p.m.
Hosts and presenters
The 2017 Costa FLW Series Championship is presented by Costa Sunglasses and hosted by the Henry County Tourism Authority.
Tournament format
The full field competes for two days, after which the field will be cut to the top 10 boaters and top 10 co-anglers based on cumulative weight. The top 10 compete on day three, with the winner in each category – boater and co-angler – determine by three-day cumulative weight.
Anglers can weigh in largemouths, smallmouths or spotted bass as long as they are at least 15 inches in length. Tournament waters include all of Kentucky Lake, as well as Lake Barkley, which is connected to Kentucky by a canal. It is illegal to possess smallmouths shorter than 18 inches in Tennessee waters of Lake Barkley.
Qualification
The Costa FLW Series Championship is a no-entry-fee tournament that is open to the top 40 boaters and co-anglers in the AOY standings who fished all three tournaments in each of five U.S. divisions. Two boaters and two co-anglers qualified to fish from each participating nation in the International Division, which includes China, South Korea, Canada, Mexico and South Africa.
Forrest Wood Cup qualification
Eleven pros will qualify for the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup at this week’s Costa FLW Series Championship. The first six slots are awarded to the top finisher at the championship from each of the five U.S. divisions as well as the top finisher from the International Division. After that, the five highest-finishing anglers at the championship, regardless of division, also qualify to the Cup.
The pro roster
The 2017 Costa FLW Series Championship roster includes 191 boaters and co-anglers from across the world.
Here’s the complete list of pros:
Jason Abram, Piney Flats, Tenn.
Brent Algeo, Ozark, Mo.
Wesley Anderson, Moscow, Tenn.
Ed Arledge, Valley Center, Calif.
Tim Arnold, Cullman, Ala.
Taylor Ashley, Warrior, Ala.
Vu Au, Tucson, Ariz.
Devon Banks, West Bloomfield, Mich.
Russ Barger, Boise, Ida.
Bradford Beavers, Ridgeville, S.C.
Matt Becker, Finleyville, Pa.
Tom Belinda, Holidaysburg, Pa.
Billy Billeaud, Lafayette, La.
Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla.
Mike Blake, Carrollton, Ohio
Drew Boggs, Lebanon, Tenn.
Greg Bohannan, Bentonville, Ark.
Jake Boomer, Spokane Valley, Wash.
Austin Brown, Benton, Ky.
Clint Brown, Bainbridge, Ga.
Ron Brown, Santee, S.C.
Rick Carter, Alba, Texas
Gary Caruso, Leesville, La.
Michael Caruso, Peoria, Ariz.
Ed Casey, Whiteford, Md.
Todd Castledine, Nacogdoches, Texas
Russell Cecil, Willis, Texas
Cole Chantler, Innisfil, Ontario
Bill Chapman, Salt Rock, W.Va.
Rafael Chavez Hermosillo, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Joey Cifuentes, Clinton, Ark.
Frank Clark, Benton, Ill.
Billy Cline, Grapevine, Texas
Sheldon Collings, Grove, Okla.
Albert Collins, Nacogdoches, Texas
Brad Cook, Afton, Okla.
Kyle Cortiana, Broken Arrow, Okla.
Tony Couch, Buckhead, Ga.
Blaine Covington, Fort Worth, Texas
Chris Daves, Spring Grove, Va.
Tony Davis, Williston ,Fla.
James E. Davis Jr., Ferriday, La.
Tommy Dickerson, Orange, Texas
Wil Dieffenbauch, Morgantown, W.Va.
Christopher, Digino, Dallas, Texas
Scott Dobson, Clarkston, Mich.
Tim Dube, Nashua, N.H.
John Duvall, Madison, Ga.
Dakota Ebare, Stephenville, Texas
Dustin Evans, Eads, Tenn.
Pat Fisher, Colbert, Ga.
Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio
Steve Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio
Norman Foskey, Biloxi, Miss.
Chad Foster, Pequot Lakes, Minn.
Tim Fox, Meridan, Miss.
Travis Fox, Rogers, Ark.
Dylan Fulk, Concord, N.C.
Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C.
Darren Gallaher, Hixson, Tenn.
Cooper Gallant, Bowmanville, Ontario
Sergio Garzavara, Sabinas, Mexico
Cameron Gautney, Muscle Shoals, Ala.
Troy Gibson, Mountain Home, Ark.
Spencer Grace, Dardanelle, Ark.
Brent Greek, Joplin, Mo.
Jon Griffith, Mesa, Ariz.
Buddy Gross, Chickamauga, Ga.
Cody Hahner, Wausau, Wis.
Bradley Hallman, Norman, Okla.
Marshall Halverson, Ankeny, Iowa
Justin Hamner, Northport, Ala.
Roy Hawk, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
Sunny Hawk, Salt Lake City, Utah
Jerod Hawkes, Sabinal, Texas
Randy Haynes, Counce, Tenn.
Dylan Hays, Sheridan, Ark.
Scott Hellesen, Benicia, Calif.
Payden Hibdon, Sunrise Beach, Mo.
Sven Hilland, Sanford, Fla.
Todd Hollowell, Fishers, Ind.
Quincy Houchin, Mabelvale, Ark.
Miles Howe, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
Chad Hulbert, Gilroy, Calif.
Brandon Hunter, Benton, Ky.
Bob Izumi, Milton, Ontario
Derek Jenkel, Pinckneyville, Ill.
Chris Johnston, Peterborough, Ontario
Cory Johnston, Cavan, Ontario
Stephen Johnston, Hemphill, Texas
Christopher Jones, Bokoshe, Okla.
Danny Jones, North East, Pa.
Bae Jong Man, Gyeongsangbuk-Do, South Korea
Powell Kemp, Scotland Neck, N.C.
Matthew Kiefer, Decatur, Ind.
Stacey King, Reeds Spring, Mo.
Steve Klein, Oroville, Calif.
Kazuki Kodama, Torrance, Calif.
Shawn Kowal, Linn Creek, Mo.
Daniel Kweekul, Bryant, Ark.
Jason Lambert, Michie, Tenn.
Joe Lane, Republic, Mo.
Kevin Lasyone, Dry Prong, La.
Thomas Lavictoire Jr., West Rutland, Vt.
Marty Lawrence, Mesa, Ariz.
Brett Leber, Dixon, Calif.
David Lee, Canton, Miss.
Wes Logan, Springville, Ala.
Travis Manson, Conshohocken, Pa.
David Mansue, Hemphill, Texas
Roland Martin, Naples, Fla.
Tommy Martin, Hemphill, Texas
Lendell Martin Jr., Nacogdoches, Texas
Michael Matthee, Centurion, South Africa
Matthew McArdle, Humble, Texas
Josh McDermott, Fishers, Ind.
Bill McDonald, Greenwood, Ind.
Danny McGarry, Bowmanville, Ontario
Brian Merriman, Falkville, Ala.
Dennis Middleton, Madison Heights, Va.
Jason Milligan, Cottonwood, Calif.
Kurt Mitchell, Milford, Del.
Brandon Mosley, Choctaw, Okla.
Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich.
Bryan New, Belmont, N.C.
Johnny Nguyen, Tucson, Ariz.
Chris O’Brien, Rochester, N.Y.
Garrett Paquette, Canton, Mich.
Brandon Perkins, Counce, Tenn.
Jonas Pettit, Auburn, Wash.
Brad Porter, Bluford, Ill.
Dale Prinkey, Warren, Ohio
Chad Prough, Chipley, Fla.
George Prvonozac, Warren, Ohio
Nick Prvonozac, Warren, Ohio
Brandon Pyles, Middletown, Md.
Josh Ray, Alexander, Ark.
Tom Redington, Royse City, Texas
Troy Roder, Brookeland, Texas
Lee Rogers, Newton, N.J.
Fred Roumbanis, London, Ark.
Allen Rude, Pauls Valley, Okla.
Juan Ruiz, Loxahatchee, Fla.
Todd Schmitz, Goshen, Ind.
Andy Scholz, Reno, Nev.
Eric Schultz, Minnetonka, Minn.
James Shaw, Coolidge, Ariz.
Brent Shores, Boise, Ida.
Tom Silber, Labadie, Mo.
Charley Slaton, Valliant, Okla.
AJ Slegona, Pine Bush, N.Y.
Bryant Smith, Castro Valley, Calif.
Casey Smith, Macedon, N.Y.
Dustin Smith, Grand Island, Fla.
Ken Smith, Dallas, Texas
Kirk Smith, Edmond, Okla.
Ryan Smith, Galloway, N.J.
John Soukup, Agra, Okla.
Bradley Staley, Pleasant Garden, N.C.
Michael Stetich, Ankeny, Iowa
Steven Stinson, Pickering, Ontario
Larry Stoafer, Leavenworth, Kan.
James Stricklin Jr., Fort Smith, Ark.
Marcus Sykora, Osage Beach, Mo.
Peter Thliveros, Saint Augustine, Fla.
Timmy Thompkins, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Furman (Joe) Thompson, Clayton, Ga.
Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C.
Heath Toler, Walnut Cove, N.C.
Terry Tucker, Gadsden, Ala.
Jim Tutt, Longview, Texas
Andrew Upshaw, Tulsa, Okla.
Joe Uribe Jr., Surprise, Ariz.
Marco Vaca, Ardmore, Okla.
Marco Valdez, Richland, Wash.
Tim Vanegmond, Gay, Ga.
Justy Varkevisser, Golden Acres Tzaneen, South Africa
Chad Warren, Sand Springs, Okla.
Jimmy Washam, Covington, Tenn.
Joshua Weaver, Macon, Ga.
Charlie Weyer, West Hills, Calif.
Scott Wiley, Bay Minette, Ala.
Tommy Williams, Shepherdsville, Ky.
Joseph Wood, Westport, Mass.
Garry Woodruff, Candia, N.H.
Todd Woods, Los Angeles, Calif.
Eric Wright, Balch Springs, Texas
Yi Ting Wu, China
Derek Yasinski, Senoia, Ga.
Joun Woo Young, Gyeonggi-Do, South Korea
Zhen Zhang, Beijing,China
The co roster
Michael Allbright, Athens, Texas
Dexter Andrews, King George, Va.
Gerald Andrews, Benton, Ky.
Valentino Bagnani III, Layton, Utah
Brandon Baltz, Walnut Ridge, Ark.
Michael (Mj) Barton, Endicott, N.Y.
Robbie Bartoszek, Hampshire, Tenn.
Dan Basham, Taylorsville, Ky.
Austin Baskette, Leesburg, Fla.
Randy Baskins, Owasso, Okla.
Steve Baskins, Owasso, Okla.
Michael Beaty, Whitewright, Texas
Mark Belew, Palmyra, Va.
Brent Benish, San Diego, Calif.
Alan Bernicky, Joliet, Ill.
Beau Bickford, Findlay, Ohio
Barry Bill, Gilbertsville, Pa.
Scott Blaesi, North Platte, Neb.
Danny H. Boggs, Fayetteville, Tenn.
Joe Bolen, Paradise, Calif.
Justin Bolen, Paradise, Calif.
Andrew Brandstrom, White Bear Lake, Minn.
Sam Bremmerkamp, Joplin, Mo.
Keith Bridges, Mission Viejo, Calif.
Bobby Brown, Hillsboro, Ore.
Mason Brown, Crawfordville, Fla.
Jason Budkey, Gilbert, Ariz.
Johnny Burke, Bristow, Okla.
Jeff Cade, McKinney, Texas
James Callaghan, De Berry, Texas
Wes Campbell, Centerville, Ohio
Seth Cannon, Brooklet, Ga.
James Chandler, Devalls Bluff, Ark.
Scap Cicero, Wetumpka, Ala.
Robert Clyse, Ironton, Ohio
Bobby Copeland, Calhoun, Tenn.
Rob Crane, Fairview Heights, Ill.
Joseph Cunningham, El Dorado Hills, Calif.
Nick Cupps, Chattanooga, Tenn.
Scott Davis, Iowa Park, Texas
Conrad Demecs, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Joseph Dickson, Gaffney, S.C.
Mark Dietrick, San Jose, Calif.
Frank Divis Sr., Farmington, Ark.
Mat Downey, Kountze, Texas
Craig Dubois, Sprakers, N.Y.
Chris Dunlap, Foristell, Mo.
Casey Dunn, North Highlands, Calif.
Jeff Farmer, Jacksonville, N.C.
Colt Farris, Crowley, Texas
Hector Fernandez Galan Espinosa, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Michael Fisher, El Cajon, Calif.
Dwayne Fricks, Starr, S.C.
Jonathan Fulton, Ray, Ohio
Robert Fulton, Ray, Ohio
Bill Fussell, Thibodaux, La.
Mike Gabel, Saint Charles, Ill.
Steven Gambardella, Lewistown, Pa.
Jackie George II, Frederick, Md.
Heath Gilmore, Meridian, Miss.
Wade Goodwin, Wilton, Calif.
Andy Greek, Joplin, Mo.
Michael Greer Jr., Deridder, La.
Stephen Griffing, Port Charlotte, Fla.
Tim Grinder, Akron, Ohio
Keith Gunsauls, El Cajon, Calif.
Mason Hamm, Paris, Texas
Gary Haraguchi, Franklin, Tenn.
Stan Harris, Searcy, Ark.
Melinda Hays, Sheridan, Ark.
Carl Hemken, Walshville, Ill.
Tommy Henley, Gonzales, La.
Jason Henson, Rome, Ga.
Neil Herline, Silsbee, Texas
Justin Hicks, Roanoke, Va.
Randy Hill, Athens, Ala.
Terry Hill, Monmouth, Maine
Terry Holsapple, Greenup, Ill.
Keith Honeycutt, Temple, Texas
Cory Hoopes, Malad, Ida.
Mark Howard, Mesquite, Texas
Craig Hulsey, Park Hills, Mo.
Frank Hutchinson, Sewell, N.J.
James Ingram, Quitman, Ark.
Wataru Iwahori, Palestine, Texas
An Jiyeun, Gyeonggi-Do, South Korea
Yuk Jun, Gangwon-Do, South Korea
David Kayda, Huffman, Texas
Eugene Kim, Lindenhurst, Ill.
Stephen Kocell, Waxhaw, N.C.
Roger LaFlamme, Lyman, Maine
Ray Larson, Springfield, Ill.
Chuck Laslie, Havana, Fla.
Eulon Lee Jr., Eclectic, Ala.
Zach Lemmond, Hillsboro, Ala.
Christopher Lemon, Mooresville, Ind.
Wayne Louw, Magalieskruin, South Africa
Edward, Lovely, Manchester, Tenn.
Tommy Lowery, O’Fallon, Mo.
Bill Lowther, Brandenburg, Ky.
Rob Lucas, Graham, Texas
Frank Mackin, New Port Richey, Fla.
Beau Magreevy, Eufaula, Okla.
Joseph Marsh, Phillipsburg, N.J.
Dan L. Martin, Springfield, Mo.
Jon Maslonka, Richland, Wash.
David Matual, Chicago, Ill.
Ken Maurer, Herndon, Pa.
Bill McClellan, Dunnellon, Fla.
Chad McClendon, Grapevine, Texas
James McNeely, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
Michael J. McNicholas, Allentown, Pa.
Grant McPeters, Marion, N.C.
Mike Merill, Brockville, Ontario
Austin Miller, Spring Hill, Kan.
Colby Miller, Elmer, La.
Lonnie Miller, Broken Arrow, Okla.
Garrett Mollway, Casselberry, Fla.
Eric Moore, Hamilton, Ohio
Txawjtas Tas Moua, Fresno, Calif.
Mike Mueller, Medway, Mass.
Scott Murison, Innisfil, Ontario
Joe Nance, Pearland, Texas
Casey O'Donnell, Langston, Ala.
Yasuhiro Okada, Osaka, Japan
Donald Oksanen, Chicago, Ill.
Roger Olson Jr., Eagle River, Wis.
Tracy Patton, Oakdale, Calif.
Richard Perez, Naples, Fla.
Henry Petersen, Three Rivers East, South Africa
Tyrone, Phillips, Little Rock, Ark.
Howard, Poitevint, Bainbridge, Ga.
Mike Power, Conroe, Texas
Tony Prince, Pulaski, Tenn.
James Allen Pruitt, Houston, Texas
Ray Puckett, Wetumpka, Ala.
Ron Ratlief, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
Kyle Richardt, Raleigh, N.C.
Dustin Roberts, Russellville, Ark.
Jacob Root, Brookeland, Texas
Hugh Rose, Davis, Okla.
Craig Rozema, Simpsonville, S.C.
Keith Ruley, Lexington, Va.
Robert Russell, Smyrna, Tenn.
Michael Sciacca, Augusta, N.J.
Daren Scott, Aledo, Texas
Gabriel Scott, Stanardsville, Va.
Mark Shelton, Fayetteville, Ark.
Josh Shirley, Cabot, Ark.
Jim Short, Ocean Pines, Md.
Tommy Sikes, Quitman, Texas
JP Sims, Cookeville, Tenn.
Carl Smith, Lugoff, S.C.
Zac Smith, Cleveland, Ala.
Ty Solis, Albany, Ga.
Antonio Soto, Ciudad Acuna, Mexico
Dennis Sprayberry, Lehigh Acres, Fla.
Mike Spurlock, Ripley, W.Va.
Kyle Stafford, Lakeland, Fla.
Tom Stark, Angola, Ind.
Craig Stevenson, Lancaster, Calif.
Raymond Tak, Los Angeles, Calif.
Brandon Taylor, Russellville, Ky.
Kelly Taylor, Beebe, Ark.
Malcom Thiel, Carriere, Miss.
Jim Topmiller, Orlando, Fla.
Matt Tucker, Pottsville, Ark.
Brandt Tumberg, Moore, S.C.
Kevin Turner, Sand Springs, Okla.
Mike Urbania, Mentor, Ohio
Rachel Uribe, Long Beach, Calif.
Ning Wang, Bejjing, China
Daniel Weaver, Macon, Ga.
James Wegmann, Fruitland Park, Fla.
Bruce Wellington, Wappingers Falls, N.Y.
Ralph Wells, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
Brad Wessling, Elkhorn, Wis.
Dan West, Ada, Okla.
Ethan Wheeler, Mayfield, Ky.
Chase Whisenhunt, Trussville, Ala.
Mark Whitman, Elon, N.C.
Alvin Williams, Hartman, Ark.
David Williams, Fredericksburg, Va.
Benny Williams Jr., Greenwood, Ark.
Phil Williams Jr., Jamestown, Ky.
Dan Wilson, Pilot Point, Texas
Max Wilson, Everton, Mo.
Jun Xu, Nanchang Jiangxi, China
Marion Yahn, Bell City, Mo.
Jim Zaleski, Parsons, Kan.
Paul Zedonis, Redding, Calif.