Elite Series 2011 Bassmaster Classic Qualifying Berths Determined

Jun 21st, 2010 by OutdoorsFIRST

Modified Jun 21st, 2010 at 12:00 AM

After an eight-event regular season stretching from California to Georgia, a bevy of Bassmaster Elite Series anglers were able to cash in on the fruits of their labor Sunday in the form of Bassmaster Classic berths. The final Elite event of the regular season, the AutoZone Sooner Run on Fort Gibson Lake, is in the books and with that, 37 anglers grabbed a coveted qualifying spot into the 2011 Bassmaster Classic.

While BASS qualifies 36 anglers for the Classic based on their ranking in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year race, because 2010 Classic champion Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., automatically qualifies and was sixth in the AOY points, the 37th angler, Paul Elias of Laurel, Miss., also gets in.

The 2010 Bassmaster Classic is set for Feb. 18-20 on the Louisiana Delta out of New Orleans.

While Elias finished strong – he scored a 16th place finish at the Sooner Run – a trio of BASS veterans were able to land their Classic berths despite missing the top 47 cut at the Oklahoma Elite event. Still, Kevin Wirth of Crestwood, Ky., (34th); Kelly Jordon of Mineola, Texas (35th) and Terry Scroggins (36th) of San Mateo, Florida, did just enough during the course of the season to sneak in. Each angler holds a Classic qualifying streak of at least five consecutive.

“I felt sick because I thought I cost myself a Classic berth here,” said Wirth, who will fish in his 10th consecutive Classic in 2011. “That’s what we fish for. To get into that Classic and have a shot at the top prize. Plus, the exposure opportunities are incredible.”

Joining the 37 Elite qualifiers in the 50-angler Classic field will be six BASS Federation Nation anglers who will qualify via the Federation Nation National Championship (Oct. 27-29; Red River; Shreveport, La.); two each from the Bassmaster Southern, Central and Northern Opens; and the winner of the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series Operated by American Bass Anglers Championship. The field will be vying for a $500,000 top prize.

In the case of anglers who qualify through two avenues, BASS will work down through the Elite Series’ AOY standings. That means all is not lost for the 38th placed competitor. In fact, in 2009, BASS worked down to the 39th spot in the AOY rankings due to anglers who double qualified via both the Opens and Elite Series.

Jared Lintner of Arroyo Grande, Calif., would be the first angler to qualify in the case of a double qualifier. The final list of the AOY regular-season standings can be found below.

Bassmaster Elite Series Official Sponsors: Toyota, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Skeeter and Yamaha

Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: Lowrance, Triton Boats, Nitro Boats, Bass Pro Shops and Ramada.

About BASS

For more than 40 years, BASS has served as the authority on bass fishing. The organization advances the sport through advocacy, outreach and its expansive tournament structure while championing efforts to connect directly with the passionate community of bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles.

The Bassmaster brand and its considerable multimedia platforms are guided by a mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications Bassmaster Magazine, BASS Times and Fishing Tackle Retailer; comprehensive Web properties in Bassmaster.com, BASSInsider.com, ESPNOutdoors.com and ESPN360.com, and ESPN2 television programming, Bassmaster provides rich, leading-edge content true to the lifestyle.

BASS oversees the prestigious Bassmaster Tournament Trail, which includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bassmaster Opens, BASS Federation Nation and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.

BASS offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members while spearheading progressive, positive change on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.

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2010 TOYOTA TUNDRA BASSMASTER ANGLER OF THE YEAR STANDINGS- REGULAR SEASON FINAL

2010 Muskogee, OK – Muskogee, OK Pro Points After Arkansas River, Muskogee, Okla. Ending 06-20-2010, Day 4

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Place Name St Pts

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1 Skeet Reese Calif. 2116

2 Edwin Evers Okla. 2010

3 Cliff Pace Miss. 1868

4 Derek Remitz Ala. 1854

5 Terry Butcher Okla. 1841

6 Kevin VanDam Mich. 1825

7 Tommy Biffle Okla. 1801

8 John Crews Va. 1792

9 Gary Klein Texas 1771

10 Greg Hackney La. 1767

11 Russ Lane Ala. 1766

11 Aaron Martens Ala. 1766

13 Brian Snowden Mo. 1732

14 Mark Davis Ark. 1726

15 Mike McClelland Ark. 1723

16 Todd Faircloth Texas 1712

17 Scott Rook Ark. 1705

18 Morizo Shimizu Japan 1690

19 Matt Herren Ala. 1686

20 Bill Lowen Ohio 1669

21 Stephen Browning Ark. 1663

22 Michael Iaconelli N.J. 1644

23 Dave Wolak N.C. 1643

24 Shaw Grigsby Fla. 1622

25 Boyd Duckett Ala. 1618

26 Bobby Lane Fla. 1608

26 Jeff Kriet Okla. 1608

28 Gerald Swindle Ala. 1601

29 Jason Williamson S.C. 1597

30 Greg Vinson Ala. 1578

31 Steve Kennedy Ala. 1573

32 Dean Rojas Ariz. 1572

33 Brent Chapman Kan. 1547

34 Kevin Wirth Ky. 1546

35 Kelly Jordon Texas 1531

36 Terry Scroggins Fla. 1530

37 Paul Elias Miss. 1525

38 Jared Lintner Calif. 1513

39 Mark Tucker Mo. 1502

40 Bradley Roy Ky. 1475

40 Davy Hite S.C. 1475

40 Rick Morris Va. 1475

43 Marty Robinson S.C. 1471

44 Pat Golden N.C. 1453

45 Clark Reehm Ark. 1450

46 Casey Ashley S.C. 1439

47 Dustin Wilks N.C. 1433

48 Denny Brauer Mo. 1427

49 James Niggemeyer Texas 1425

50 Mark Menendez Ky. 1423

51 Timmy Horton Ala. 1422

52 Cliff Crochet La. 1414

53 Jason Quinn S.C. 1412

54 Takahiro Omori Texas 1406

55 Matt Reed Texas 1405

56 Alton Jones Texas 1397

57 Randy Howell Ala. 1382

58 Kenyon Hill Okla. 1378

59 Billy McCaghren Ark. 1374

60 Ish Monroe Calif. 1368

61 Marty Stone N.C. 1364

62 Pete Ponds Miss. 1360

63 Kevin Short Ark. 1354

64 Kotaro Kiriyama Ala. 1352

65 Bradley Hallman Okla. 1350

65 Peter Thliveros Fla. 1350

67 Guy Eaker N.C. 1339

68 J Todd Tucker Ga. 1334

69 Zell Rowland Texas 1327

70 Rick Clunn Mo. 1317

71 Chris Lane Ala. 1288

72 Jami Fralick S.D. 1286

73 Keith Poche Ala. 1276

74 Mark Tyler Okla. 1274

75 Grant Goldbeck Md. 1266

76 Chad Griffin Texas 1260

77 Byron Velvick Texas 1247

78 Jeff Connella La. 1246

79 Bernie Schultz Fla. 1228

80 Britt Myers S.C. 1226

81 Matt Greenblatt Fla. 1225

82 Fred Roumbanis Okla. 1213

83 Charlie Hartley Ohio 1210

84 John Murray Ariz. 1186

85 Wade Grooms S.C. 1156

86 Yusuke Miyazaki Texas 1144

87 Vince Fulks Okla. 1132

88 Dennis Tietje La. 1096

89 Byron Haseotes Mass. 1010

90 Jeremy Starks W.Va. 990

91 David Smith Okla. 988

92 Mark Burgess Mass. 970

93 Scott Ashmore Okla. 906

Elite Series 2011 Bassmaster Classic Qualifying Berths Determined

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