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44 ANGLERS QUALIFIED FOR 51-FIELD
CITGO BASSMASTER CLASSIC
Seven Coveted Spots To be Decided in January
2006
Dec. 19, 2005 - CELEBRATION, Fla. - Although
professional bass fishing underwent a dramatic restructuring
with the announcement of the groundbreaking CITGO Bassmaster
Elite Series and more lucrative opportunities with the three
Bassmaster Majors, some things will never change. The prestige
of qualifying for the CITGO Bassmaster Classic, the sport's most
major event, is one of them.
Already, 44 of the 51 spots in the 2006 Bassmaster
Classic, Feb. 24-26, on Lake Tohopekaliga in Kissimmee, Fla.,
are filled. Those anglers, listed below, are vying for a $500,000
grand prize and the sport's top title.
"The first time I fished in the Classic, it
was like fulfilling a childhood dream," Arizona's Dean Rojas
said. "A number of less-experienced guys who are in the
field are certainly feeling the same way I did."
While Rojas qualified for the Classic in June through
the 2005 Bassmaster Elite 50 points standings, five other anglers
qualified in early December at the CITGO Bassmaster Open Championship
on the Alabama River in Prattville, Ala. Rick Morris, a 2006
CITGO Bassmaster Elite Series angler, finished second and on
the strength of that performance, qualified for his third Classic.
"It's certainly been a long time overdue,"
said Morris, who last qualified for the Classic in 1998. "But
I feel really confident. I have done very well in my last five
tournaments and I darn near won the Open Championship."
Six of the remaining seven Bassmaster Classic spots
will be filled with the leaders from the BASS Federation Championship,
Jan. 11-14, 2006, at the Harris Chain of Lakes in Leesburg, Fla.
The last spot will go to the winner of the ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster
Series Championship, Jan. 19-21, 2006, on East Lake Tohopekaliga
in Kissimmee, Fla.
"We have a very exciting field for our 2006
Classic comprised of the premier anglers in our sport today,"
said Don Rucks, BASS general manager and vice president. "Anyone
of these anglers has the potential to have a truly special day
on a tremendous fishery like Toho."
The 2006 CITGO Bassmaster Classic will be hosted
by the Kissimmee Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Central
Florida Sports Commission.
BASS is the worldwide authority on bass fishing,
sanctioning more than 20,000 events through the BASS Federation
annually. Guided by its mission to serve all fishing fans, BASS
sets the standard for credibility, professionalism, sportsmanship
and conservation, as it has for nearly 40 years.
BASS stages bass fishing tournaments for every
skill level and culminates with the CITGO Bassmaster Classic.
Through its clubs, youth programs, aquatic resource advocacy,
magazine publishing and multimedia platforms, BASS offers the
industry's widest array of services and support to its nearly
550,000 members. The organization is headquartered in Celebration,
Fla.
For more information, contact BASS Communications
at (407) 566-2208 or visit www.bassmaster.com.
Qualifiers for 2006 Classic
1. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, Okla.
2. Chad Brauer Osage Beach, Mo.
3. Preston Clark Palatka, Fla.
4. Luke Clausen Spokane, Wash.
5. Rick Clunn Ava, Mo.
6. George Cochran Hot Springs, Ark.
7. John Crews Salem, Va.
8. Edwin Evers Mannsville, Okla.
9. Greg Gutierrez Red Bluff, Calif.
10. Greg Hackney Gonzales, La.
11. Davy Hite Prosperity, S.C.
12. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, Ala.
13. Randy Howell Springville, Ala.
14. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J.
15. Stacey King Reeds Spring, Mo.
16. Gary Klein Weatherford, Texas
17. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, Okla.
18. Aaron Martens Leeds, Ala.
19. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, Ark.
20. Mark Menendez Paducah, Ky.
21. Jimmy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark.
22. Ish Monroe Hughson, Calif.
23. Andre Moore Scottsdale, Ariz.
24. Chad Morgenthaler Carbondale, Ill.
25. Rick Morris Lanexa, Va.
26. Larry Nixon Bee Branch, Ark.
27. Skeet Reese Auburn, Calif.
28. Jeff Reynolds Idabel, Okla.
29. Mike Reynolds Modesto, Calif.
30. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu, Ariz.
31. Scott Rook Little Rock, Ark.
32. Zell Rowland Montgomery, Texas
33. Terry Scroggins Palatka, Fla.
34. Ron Shuffield Bismarck, Ark.
35. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, Mo.
36. Marty Stone Linden, N.C.
37. Gerald Swindle Hayden, Ala.
38. Mark Tucker Saint Louis, Mo.
39. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich.
40. David Walker Sevierville, Tenn.
41. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky.
42. Dave Wolak Warrior Run, Pa.
43. Mike Wurm Hot Springs, Ark.
44. Jay Yelas Tyler, Texas
* The Federation Championship and ESPN Outdoors
Bassmaster Series Championship have not been completed. The remaining
seven spots will make a total Classic field of 51 anglers.
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