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Kansas' Chapman Wins Inaugural
Cabela's Top Gun Championship
- Beats Japan's Namiki By Less Than a Pound -

August 14, 2005 - FT. WORTH, Texas -- Kansas' Brent Chapman won his first major title in bass fishing today by winning the inaugural Cabela's Top Gun Championship. Held here on Eagle Mountain Lake, the tournament fielded the top 25 professional bass fishermen in the world according to the State Farm World Rankings.

Today was the final day of competition, and with the day's cloudy weather the event became a big-weight shootout. Japan's Toshinari Namiki had the heaviest five-fish limit of the day (12.31 pounds), but his total three-day weight of 34.29 pounds wasn't enough to beat Chapman.

Chapman's 11.09-pound limit today gave him 34.96 pounds, good enough for his first major win and a $100,000 check from Cabela's and Skeeter Boats. A Skeeter pro, he won by fishing docks with a Terminator Pro's Top Secret Jig with a sapphire blue Zoom chunk. He tied a custom skirt on the jig to match the bright sapphire blue color.

"This is awesome," Chapman said, who came into this tournament ranked 9th in the world. "I'm just relieved. I finally won a big tournament.

"I was little nervous for a spell, but decided I couldn't worry -- I couldn't get too caught up in it. Then I was nervous when I saw what Toshi (Namiki) weighed. When he weighed in, and I saw his total weight, I thought it would be within ounces. I didn't know if I had it or not."

Namiki said, "I'm a little disappointed because of the money, but I'm not disappointed for how I did in this tournament. I had a really great time. These were great people -- Texas people, BassFan people, Cabela's, and also the other contenders."

The rest of the Top 5 included George Cochran (third with 32.57 pounds), Dean Rojas (fourth with 32.52 pounds) and Alabama's Matt Herren with 30.80 pounds.

All were disappointed they didn't win, but especially Rojas, who thought he had a great shot. "I feel terrible," he said when he got off the water. "I just lost $100,000 and I know it. But I did the best I could today. I have no regrets. I went for it."

Tonight also marked the final event of the 2005 professional bass fishing season. And the angler who is ranked No. 1 in the world now that it's all over for the year is Greg Hackney, the Louisiana phenom who has taken the professional bass fishing world by storm the last few years.

Hackney is the No. 1 angler in the State Farm World Rankings after the 2005 season, and tonight at the Cabela's Top Gun Championship was awarded the State Farm No. 1 in the world trophy and $7,500 State Farm No. 1 Bonus. He received a standing ovation from his fellow competitors and the crowd.

About the event:

The Cabela's Top Gun Championship takes the 25 top-ranked professional bass fishermen in the world, regardless of which tour or tours they fish, and puts them on the same body of water. The anglers are the best in the world according to the State Farm World Rankings, which rankings anglers who fish either or both of the pro fishing tours: the Bassmaster Tour and the FLW Tour.

The event is title-sponsored by outdoor outfitter Cabela's (www.cabelas.com), and is presented by Skeeter Boats (www.skeeterboats.com), the Outdoor Life Network (www.olntv.com) and BassFan (www.bassfan.com). Supporting sponsors include State Farm Insurance (www.statefarm.com), Mann's HardNose Baits (www.mannsbait.com), Bagley Bait Co. (www.bagleybait.com), Lowrance Electronics (www.lowrance.com), Oakley sunglasses (www.oakley.com) and Tru-Tungsten (www.tru-tungsten.com).

Television coverage:

The Cabela's Top Gun Championship telecast will air Saturday, Sept. 24 at 10:00 a.m. EST on the Outdoor Life Network. Additional coverage of the event will appear on FOX Sports and OLN (Americana Outdoors and Fishing and Hunting Texas). Full 24/7 coverage is on BassFan.com.

Day 3 (Final) Standings

(Place, Angler, Hometown, Tour(s) Fished, Day 1 Weight, Day 2 Weight, Day 3 Weight, Total Weight)

1. Brent Chapman -- Shawnee, KS -- BASS/FLW -- 5, 11.62 -- 5, 12.25 -- 5, 11.09 -- 15, 34.96 -- $104,000

2. Toshinari Namiki -- Hachioji City, Japan -- FLW -- 5, 14.42 -- 2, 7.56 -- 5, 12.31 -- 12, 34.29 -- $7,000

3. George Cochran -- Hot Springs, AR -- BASS/FLW -- 5, 10.47 -- 5, 11.21 -- 5, 10.89 -- 15, 32.57 -- $4,000

4. Dean Rojas -- Grand Saline, TX -- BASS/FLW -- 5, 11.79 -- 5, 11.95 -- 3, 8.78 -- 13, 32.52 -- $4,000

5. Matthew Herren -- Clay, AL -- FLW -- 5, 8.93 -- 5, 10.08 -- 5, 11.79 -- 15, 30.80 -- $4,000

6. Edwin Evers -- Mannsville, OK -- BASS -- 4, 9.42 -- 5, 10.90 -- 4, 9.31 -- 13, 29.63 -- $4,000

7. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, TX -- BASS/FLW -- 5, 12.06 -- 3, 4.49 -- 5, 11.57 -- 13, 28.12 -- $4,000

8. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Springs, MO -- BASS -- 5, 8.99 -- 5, 9.23 -- 4, 8.67 -- 14, 26.89 -- $4,000

9. Gerald Swindle -- Hayden, AL -- BASS -- 3, 5.39 -- 2, 5.03 -- 5, 13.73 -- 10, 24.15 -- $5,500

10. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- BASS/FLW -- 5, 13.89 -- 0, 0.00 -- 5, 9.61 -- 10, 23.50 -- $4,000

11. Terry Scroggins -- Palatka, FL -- BASS -- 3, 5.39 -- 5, 10.10 -- 3, 6.76 -- 11, 22.25 -- $4,000

12. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, CA -- BASS -- 4, 6.09 -- 5, 8.54 -- 3, 4.96 -- 12, 19.59 -- $4,000

13. David Walker -- Sevierville, TN -- BASS/FLW -- 4, 7.64 -- 2, 2.63 -- 3, 8.57 -- 9, 18.84 -- $4,000

14. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, AR -- BASS -- 2, 4.13 -- 3, 4.79 -- 5, 8.94 -- 10, 17.86 -- $4,000

15. Marty Stone -- Linden, NC -- BASS -- 0, 0.00 -- 5, 10.43 -- 3, 6.27 -- 8, 17.20 -- $4,000

16. Tim Horton -- Muscle Shoals, AL -- BASS -- 2, 4.82 -- 2, 2.94 -- 4, 9.43 -- 8, 17.19 -- $4,000

17. Michael Iaconelli -- Voorhees, NJ -- BASS/FLW -- 5, 9.62 -- 1, 1.38 -- 3, 5.20 -- 9, 16.20 -- $4,000

18. Mark Tucker -- Kirkwood, MO -- BASS -- 3, 5.85 -- 3, 5.24 -- 3, 4.94 -- 9, 16.03 -- $4,000

19. Kevin Wirth -- Crestwood, KY -- BASS -- 4, 6.20 -- 3, 5.81 -- 2, 3.65 -- 9, 15.66 -- $4,000

20. Dave Lefebre -- Union City, PA -- FLW -- 5, 8.74 -- 2, 3.46 -- 2, 3.26 -- 9, 15.46 -- $4,000

21. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, OK -- BASS -- 1, 2.64 -- 2, 3.39 -- 5, 9.04 -- 8, 15.07 -- $4,000

22. Ron Shuffield -- Bismarck, AR -- BASS -- 5, 9.35 -- 1, 3.21 -- 1, 2.05 -- 7, 14.61 -- $4,000

23. Anthony Gagliardi -- Prosperity, SC -- FLW -- 5, 9.21 -- 1, 1.68 -- 1, 1.37 -- 7, 12.26 -- $4,000

24. Scott Suggs -- Alexander, AR -- BASS/FLW -- 0, 0.00 -- 1, 2.67 -- 3, 5.94 -- 4, 8.61 -- $4,000

25. Stacey King -- Reeds Spring, MO -- BASS -- 0.00 (disqualified before event began)

Tru-Tungsten Big Bass Award

> Day 3: Gerald Swindle -- Hayden, AL -- BASS -- 5.73 -- $1,500

> Day 2: Toshinari Namiki -- Hachioji City, Japan -- FLW -- 5.42 -- $1,500

> Day 1: Toshinari Namiki -- Hachioji City, Japan -- FLW -- 5.52 -- $1,500

Chapman Takes Over Lead
But Eight Anglers Could Win
- Tight Finish At Cabela's Top Gun Championship -

August 13, 2005 - FT. WORTH, Texas -- After the second of three days of competition, Kansas' Brent Chapman, the 9th-ranked pro bass angler in the world, leads the Cabela's Top Gun Championship being held here on Eagle Mountain Lake. But his lead is extremely slim. Chapman has 23.87 pounds, but Dean Rojas is about a fin's worth of weight behind with 23.74 pounds.

And by no means is it a two-man tournament. Any one of the top eight anglers can still win. Japan's Toshinari Namiki led yesterday and had just two fish today, but one was a 5.42-pounder. That was good enough to win the $1,500 Tru-Tungsten big bass award for the second day in a row, and it also helped him stay in contention. He is in 3rd place with 21.98 pounds.

Fifty-five-year-old George Cochran, who earned $500,000 this year for winning the FLW Tour Forrest L. Wood Championship and then finished 4th at the recent Bassmaster Classic, is 4th with 21.68 pounds. And Edwin Evers is in 5th with 20.32 pounds.

The other anglers who could pull out a win tomorrow are Alabama's Matt Herren (6th), Missouri's Brian Snowden (7th) and 2004 Bassmaster Classic winner Takahiro Omori (8th).

"It's awesome," Chapman said about leading going into the final day. "That means everybody behind you has to catch a fish tomorrow." Asked whether he feels any pressure, he said: "I'm going to go fishing tomorrow and worry about the fish, not about the fishermen.

Rojas said, "I've been in this position quite often the last few years, and I love it -- being right there in position to win. I'm fishing well, I've been getting a lot of bites every day and they're good ones. I look forward to tomorrow."

Namiki feels "very relaxed" being in 3rd even though he only caught two fish today. "I still have a chance to win because I have (the day's) big fish, and nobody knows how many big fish we can have. If I could have two fish like (today's 5-pounder), I might win with only two fish."

Cochran likewise likes his chances. "I'm only 2 pounds out of the lead, and it's very possible to catch 15 to 18 pounds here. And the way I'm fishing, I have a possibility of catching a big string."

Evers feels "really good" about being in 5th, 3 1/2 pounds out of the lead. "Being in contention to win going into the last day is all anyone ever asks for," he said. "I'm just one 4-pound bite away from winning this thing. I just need to catch five fish. This is an endurance race. You have to catch five every day to have an opportunity to win."

Because of the innovative weigh-in, tomorrow the anglers will not know their weights until the weigh-in show at the Cabela's in Ft. Worth (12901 Cabela Drive,

Ft. Worth, TX 76177, 817-337-2400). The final-day Cabela's weigh-in show begins at 5:30 p.m. CST tomorrow, Sunday, Aug. 14. But fishing fans should allow more time for autographs, and for shopping the boat and tackle show, and the massive Cabela's store.

This is a winner-take-all event. The anglers all get a $4,000 appearance fee, but only the winner -- who only has to beat 23 fishermen to win (one angler was disqualified for a rules violation before the tournament began) -- will get the $100,000 cash 1st-place prize.

Day 2 Standings

(Place, Angler, Hometown, Tour(s) Fished, Day 1 Weight, Day 2 Weight, Total Weight)

1. Brent Chapman -- Shawnee, KS -- BASS/FLW -- 5, 11.62 -- 5, 12.25 -- 9, 23.87

2. Dean Rojas -- Grand Saline, TX -- BASS/FLW -- 5, 11.79 -- 5, 11.95 -- 10, 23.74

3. Toshinari Namiki -- Hachioji City, Japan -- FLW -- 5, 14.42 -- 2, 7.56 -- 7, 21.98

4. George Cochran -- Hot Springs, AR -- BASS/FLW -- 5, 10.47 -- 5, 11.21 -- 10, 21.68

5. Edwin Evers -- Mannsville, OK -- BASS -- 4, 9.42 -- 5, 10.90 -- 9, 20.32

6. Matthew Herren -- Clay, AL -- FLW -- 5, 8.93 -- 5, 10.08 -- 10, 19.01

7. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Springs, MO -- BASS -- 5, 8.99 -- 5, 9.23 -- 10, 18.22

8. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, TX -- BASS/FLW -- 5, 12.06 -- 3, 4.49 -- 8, 16.55

9. Terry Scroggins -- Palatka, FL -- BASS -- 3, 5.39 -- 5, 10.10 -- 8, 15.49

10. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, CA -- BASS -- 4, 6.09 -- 5, 8.54 -- 9, 14.63

11. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- BASS/FLW -- 5, 13.89 -- 0, 0.00 -- 5, 13.89

12. Ron Shuffield -- Bismarck, AR -- BASS -- 5, 9.35 -- 1, 3.21 -- 6, 12.56

13. Dave Lefebre -- Union City, PA -- FLW -- 5, 8.74 -- 2, 3.46 -- 7, 12.20

14. Kevin Wirth -- Crestwood, KY -- BASS -- 4, 6.20 -- 3, 5.81 -- 7, 12.01

15. Mark Tucker -- Kirkwood, MO -- BASS -- 3, 5.85 -- 3, 5.24 -- 6, 11.09

16. Michael Iaconelli -- Voorhees, NJ -- BASS/FLW -- 5, 9.62 -- 1, 1.38 -- 6, 11.00

17. Anthony Gagliardi -- Prosperity, SC -- FLW -- 5, 9.21 -- 1, 1.68 -- 6, 10.89

18. Marty Stone -- Linden, NC -- BASS -- 0, 0.00 -- 5, 10.93 -- 5, 10.43

19. Gerald Swindle -- Hayden, AL -- BASS -- 3, 5.39 -- 2, 5.03 -- 5, 10.42

20. David Walker -- Sevierville, TN -- BASS/FLW -- 4, 7.64 -- 2, 2.63 -- 6, 10.27

21. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, AR -- BASS -- 2, 4.13 -- 3, 4.79 -- 5, 8.92

22. Tim Horton -- Muscle Shoals, AL -- BASS -- 2, 4.82 -- 2, 2.94 -- 4, 7.76

23. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, OK -- BASS -- 1, 2.64 -- 2, 3.39 -- 3, 6.03

24. Scott Suggs -- Alexander, AR -- BASS/FLW -- 0, 0.00 -- 1, 2.67 -- 1, 2.67

Tru-Tungsten Big Bass Award

> Day 2: Toshinari Namiki -- Hachioji City, Japan -- 5.42 -- $1,500

> Day 1: Toshinari Namiki -- Hachioji City, Japan -- 5.52 -- $1,500

Japan's Namiki Leads Day 1 Of
Cabela's Top Gun Championship
- No. 1-Ranked Hackney In 2nd -

August 12, 2005 - FT. WORTH, Texas -- Japan's Toshinari Namiki leads day 1 of the Cabela's Top Gun Championship on Eagle Mountain Lake here in Ft. Worth. His five-fish limit weighed 14.42 pounds, but he doesn't have a solid lead. Greg Hackney, No. 1 in the world, is only half a pound ounces behind in 2nd place with a 13.89 limit.

Takahiro Omori is in 3rd with a limit weighing 12.06, Dean Rojas is in 4th with a 11.79 limit and Kansas' Brent Chapman is in 5th with an 11.62 limit.

The inaugural Cabela's Top Gun Championship takes the Top 25 bass anglers in the world and puts them on the same body of water. The anglers are the best in the world according to the State Farm World Rankings, which rankings anglers who fish either or both of the pro fishing tours: the Bassmaster Tour and the FLW Tour.

Dawn was cloudy today on Eagle Mountain Lake, and much of the exclusive 24-man field (one angler was disqualified before the event began) found the early bite tough. That might be because most of them are fishing docks, and cloudy weather usually causes the bass to disperse and get tougher to target.

Even though Namiki leads, he doesn't have a lot of confidence. "I hit many (areas of) water today, but couldn't catch fish in concentrated spots. It was one here, one there, all day. I have to do some learning tomorrow."

Hackney had the second-heaviest limit of the day and caught 15 keepers, but called his day "so-so. I caught a bunch of fish, but I never had a big (fish) opportunity. I was real confident I might catch about a 6-pounder." Big fish aside, he thinks being consistent will win the tournament.

Omori only caught five keepers today, and said he expects the fishing to get tougher tomorrow. But that's not because of weekend pleasure boat traffic. "Everybody's fishing the same stuff, so it'll probably get tougher every day. So I'm real happy with what I have today."

Rojas is virtually mum, and that means he's on fish. "Basically what worked today was what I had going in practice," he said. "It's going like clockwork right now."

Chapman had a better day than he thought. "I thought it would be a little tougher. I think the wind and clouds made it better. But even if it gets sunny and hot with no wind, I think the fish will still bite pretty good." He's concentrating on a big-fish bite.

With the quality of fish in the lake, literally no one is out of the running yet since all anglers fish all 3 days. As Gerald Swindle said, "I still think this tournament can be won in one day. This lake has that potential, if you can just get it figured out that one day."

Day 1 Standings

1. Toshinari Namiki -- Hachioji City, Japan -- 5, 14.42

2. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 5, 13.89

3. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, TX -- 5, 12.06

4. Dean Rojas -- Grand Saline, TX -- 5, 11.79

5. Brent Chapman -- Shawnee, KS -- 5, 11.62

6. George Cochran -- Hot Springs, AR -- 5, 10.47

7. Michael Iaconelli -- Voorhees, NJ -- 5, 9.62

8. Edwin Evers -- Mannsville, OK -- 4, 9.42

9. Ron Shuffield -- Bismarck, AR -- 5, 9.35

10. Anthony Gagliardi -- Prosperity, SC -- 5, 9.21

11. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Springs, MO -- 5, 8.99

12. Matthew Herren -- Clay, AL -- 5, 8.93

13. Dave Lefebre -- Union City, PA -- 5, 8.74

14. David Walker -- Sevierville, TN -- 4, 7.64

15. Kevin Wirth -- Crestwood, KY -- 4, 6.20

16. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, CA -- 4, 6.09

17. Mark Tucker -- Kirkwood, MO -- 3, 5.85

18. Gerald Swindle -- Hayden, AL -- 3, 5.39

19. Terry Scroggins -- Palatka, FL -- 3, 5.39

20. Tim Horton -- Muscle Shoals, AL -- 2, 4.82

21. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, AR -- 2, 4.13

22. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, OK -- 1, 2.64

23. Scott Suggs -- Alexander, AR -- 0, 0.00

24. Marty Stone -- Linden, NC -- 0, 0.00

Tru-Tungsten Big Bass Award

> Day 1: Toshinari Namiki -- Hachioji City, Japan -- 5.52 -- $1,500

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