02-26-2007, 06:38 PM
[size 1]BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Boyd Duckett accomplished Sunday what no Bassmaster Classic angler had been able to in the 37-year history of the marquee event. The Demopolis, Ala., Bassmaster Elite Series pro became the first homestate angler to win the Classic and the $500,000 top prize.
The 46-year-old brought in the final round's biggest five-bass limit - 17 pounds, 13 ounces - to climb up from fourth place. His three-day total of 48-10 was enough to hold off California Bassmaster Elite Series angler Skeet Reese by six ounces. ESPN2 aired 10 ½ hours of coverage over the three-day event on Alabama's Lay Lake.
Reese, who was participating in his seventh Classic, brought in a limit of 15-14, but it was not enough to secure his first Classic championship. He finished with 48-4.
Second-round leader and two-time Classic champion Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich,, fell to third with 45-4. Indiana's Terry McWilliams, a representative of the BASS Federation Nation, the grassroots organization of BASS, finished fourth with 45-3. Texan Gary Klein rounded out the top five with 44-5.
Duckett sealed his dramatic victory with the Purolator Big Bass of the Day for which he earned a $1,000 premium - a 6-pound, 9-ounce largemouth - caught at 2 p.m.
"I'm so proud I brought the Classic title to my home state," he said. "It's every angler's dream to be able to get here and to win it is just fantastic."
Duckett was among a contingent of nine Alabama pros in the Classic this week and was one of the pre-Classic favorites because of his extensive experience on Lay Lake. He used a lipless crankbait and flipped a Berkley Powerbait Chigger Craw into grass .
Reese, competing in his eighth Classic, was disappointed at his second-place finish.
"Second hurts, it really does," said Reese, who also caught his limit of bass on a Berkley Chigger Craw. "You don't get that many opportunities to win a Bassmaster Classic. This was a golden opportunity this week. But I won't say I let it slip away because I fished the best I could."
With the third-place finish, VanDam, a three-time Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year, opened up a larger lead in the BASS all-time money earnings race over Missourri's Denny Brauer. VanDam, 39, has amassed over $2 million in winnings but lamented the lost opportunity.
"I'll be honest with you, I'm definitely disappointed," he said. "But I didn't leave anything out there. I fished my guts out."
2007 Bassmaster Classic 02/23-02/25
Lay Lake, Birmingham Ala.
(PRO Division) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, Ala. 15 48-10 300 $502,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-14 Day 2: 5 10-15 Day 3: 5 17-13
1. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, Ala. 15 48-10 300 $502,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-14 Day 2: 5 10-15 Day 3: 5 17-13
2. Skeet Reese Auburn, Calif. 15 48-04 295 $45,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-08 Day 2: 5 14-14 Day 3: 5 15-14
3. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 15 45-04 290 $41,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 19-14 Day 3: 5 12-05
4. Terry McWilliams Greenfield, Ind. 15 45-03 285 $30,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 12-04 Day 3: 5 17-06
5. Gary Klein Weatherford, Texas 15 44-05 280 $25,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 17-05 Day 3: 5 15-10
6. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky. 15 41-04 276 $22,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 12-08 Day 3: 5 14-03
7. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, Fla. 15 39-09 272 $21,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-00 Day 2: 5 13-15 Day 3: 5 8-10
8. Steve Kennedy Auburn, Ala. 15 38-05 268 $21,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 16-07 Day 3: 5 9-12
9. Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, S.C. 15 38-01 264 $20,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 12-15 Day 3: 5 14-02
10. Dean Rojas Grand Saline, Texas 15 37-13 260 $20,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 11-03 Day 3: 5 13-06
11. Mike Wurm Hot Springs, Ark. 15 37-09 257 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 10-08 Day 3: 5 13-01
12. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, Ark. 15 37-05 254 $14,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 14-03 Day 3: 5 10-13
13. Randy Howell Springville, Ala. 14 36-15 251 $14,250.00
Day 1: 5 17-15 Day 2: 4 9-09 Day 3: 5 9-07
14. Ishama Monroe Hughson, Calif. 15 36-12 248 $14,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 12-05 Day 3: 5 9-07
15. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, Okla. 15 36-06 245 $13,750.00
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 11-06 Day 3: 5 12-06
16. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, Ala. 12 36-00 243 $13,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-05 Day 2: 5 12-06 Day 3: 2 6-05
17. James Niggemeyer Van, Texas 15 35-13 241 $12,900.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 10-08 Day 3: 5 11-14
18. Todd Faircloth Jasper, Texas 15 35-11 239 $12,800.00
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 11-04 Day 3: 5 12-11
19. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, Calif. 15 35-06 237 $12,700.00
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 10-00 Day 3: 5 11-00
20. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, Okla. 13 34-11 235 $12,600.00
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 11-11 Day 3: 3 6-05
21. Royce Dennington Barnsdall, Okla. 15 34-10 233 $12,400.00
Day 1: 5 9-15 Day 2: 5 13-13 Day 3: 5 10-14
22. Alton Jones Waco, Texas 15 33-15 231 $12,300.00
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 12-03 Day 3: 5 9-06
23. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 15 32-02 229 $12,200.00
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 11-06 Day 3: 5 7-03
24. Russ Lane Prattville, Ala. 15 32-00 227 $12,100.00
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 8-10 Day 3: 5 9-09
25. Aaron Martens Leeds, Ala. 13 30-09 225 $12,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 13-02 Day 3: 3 3-10
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Purolator Big Bass
Day
1 Boyd Duckett Demopolis, Ala. 8-02 $1,000.00
2 Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 5-07 $1,000.00
3 Boyd Duckett Demopolis, Ala. 6-09 $1,000.00
Purolator Big Bass of Tournament
Boyd Duckett Demopolis, Ala. 8-02 $2,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 46 241 606-11
2 39 227 506-02
3 22 118 283-00
----------------------------------
107 586 1395-13
Media Contact:
Bass Communications (407) 566-2208 [/size]
[signature]
The 46-year-old brought in the final round's biggest five-bass limit - 17 pounds, 13 ounces - to climb up from fourth place. His three-day total of 48-10 was enough to hold off California Bassmaster Elite Series angler Skeet Reese by six ounces. ESPN2 aired 10 ½ hours of coverage over the three-day event on Alabama's Lay Lake.
Reese, who was participating in his seventh Classic, brought in a limit of 15-14, but it was not enough to secure his first Classic championship. He finished with 48-4.
Second-round leader and two-time Classic champion Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich,, fell to third with 45-4. Indiana's Terry McWilliams, a representative of the BASS Federation Nation, the grassroots organization of BASS, finished fourth with 45-3. Texan Gary Klein rounded out the top five with 44-5.
Duckett sealed his dramatic victory with the Purolator Big Bass of the Day for which he earned a $1,000 premium - a 6-pound, 9-ounce largemouth - caught at 2 p.m.
"I'm so proud I brought the Classic title to my home state," he said. "It's every angler's dream to be able to get here and to win it is just fantastic."
Duckett was among a contingent of nine Alabama pros in the Classic this week and was one of the pre-Classic favorites because of his extensive experience on Lay Lake. He used a lipless crankbait and flipped a Berkley Powerbait Chigger Craw into grass .
Reese, competing in his eighth Classic, was disappointed at his second-place finish.
"Second hurts, it really does," said Reese, who also caught his limit of bass on a Berkley Chigger Craw. "You don't get that many opportunities to win a Bassmaster Classic. This was a golden opportunity this week. But I won't say I let it slip away because I fished the best I could."
With the third-place finish, VanDam, a three-time Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year, opened up a larger lead in the BASS all-time money earnings race over Missourri's Denny Brauer. VanDam, 39, has amassed over $2 million in winnings but lamented the lost opportunity.
"I'll be honest with you, I'm definitely disappointed," he said. "But I didn't leave anything out there. I fished my guts out."
2007 Bassmaster Classic 02/23-02/25
Lay Lake, Birmingham Ala.
(PRO Division) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, Ala. 15 48-10 300 $502,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-14 Day 2: 5 10-15 Day 3: 5 17-13
1. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, Ala. 15 48-10 300 $502,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-14 Day 2: 5 10-15 Day 3: 5 17-13
2. Skeet Reese Auburn, Calif. 15 48-04 295 $45,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-08 Day 2: 5 14-14 Day 3: 5 15-14
3. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 15 45-04 290 $41,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 19-14 Day 3: 5 12-05
4. Terry McWilliams Greenfield, Ind. 15 45-03 285 $30,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 12-04 Day 3: 5 17-06
5. Gary Klein Weatherford, Texas 15 44-05 280 $25,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 17-05 Day 3: 5 15-10
6. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky. 15 41-04 276 $22,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 12-08 Day 3: 5 14-03
7. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, Fla. 15 39-09 272 $21,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-00 Day 2: 5 13-15 Day 3: 5 8-10
8. Steve Kennedy Auburn, Ala. 15 38-05 268 $21,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 16-07 Day 3: 5 9-12
9. Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, S.C. 15 38-01 264 $20,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 12-15 Day 3: 5 14-02
10. Dean Rojas Grand Saline, Texas 15 37-13 260 $20,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 11-03 Day 3: 5 13-06
11. Mike Wurm Hot Springs, Ark. 15 37-09 257 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 10-08 Day 3: 5 13-01
12. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, Ark. 15 37-05 254 $14,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 14-03 Day 3: 5 10-13
13. Randy Howell Springville, Ala. 14 36-15 251 $14,250.00
Day 1: 5 17-15 Day 2: 4 9-09 Day 3: 5 9-07
14. Ishama Monroe Hughson, Calif. 15 36-12 248 $14,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 12-05 Day 3: 5 9-07
15. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, Okla. 15 36-06 245 $13,750.00
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 11-06 Day 3: 5 12-06
16. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, Ala. 12 36-00 243 $13,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-05 Day 2: 5 12-06 Day 3: 2 6-05
17. James Niggemeyer Van, Texas 15 35-13 241 $12,900.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 10-08 Day 3: 5 11-14
18. Todd Faircloth Jasper, Texas 15 35-11 239 $12,800.00
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 11-04 Day 3: 5 12-11
19. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, Calif. 15 35-06 237 $12,700.00
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 10-00 Day 3: 5 11-00
20. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, Okla. 13 34-11 235 $12,600.00
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 11-11 Day 3: 3 6-05
21. Royce Dennington Barnsdall, Okla. 15 34-10 233 $12,400.00
Day 1: 5 9-15 Day 2: 5 13-13 Day 3: 5 10-14
22. Alton Jones Waco, Texas 15 33-15 231 $12,300.00
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 12-03 Day 3: 5 9-06
23. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 15 32-02 229 $12,200.00
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 11-06 Day 3: 5 7-03
24. Russ Lane Prattville, Ala. 15 32-00 227 $12,100.00
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 8-10 Day 3: 5 9-09
25. Aaron Martens Leeds, Ala. 13 30-09 225 $12,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 13-02 Day 3: 3 3-10
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Purolator Big Bass
Day
1 Boyd Duckett Demopolis, Ala. 8-02 $1,000.00
2 Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 5-07 $1,000.00
3 Boyd Duckett Demopolis, Ala. 6-09 $1,000.00
Purolator Big Bass of Tournament
Boyd Duckett Demopolis, Ala. 8-02 $2,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 46 241 606-11
2 39 227 506-02
3 22 118 283-00
----------------------------------
107 586 1395-13
Media Contact:
Bass Communications (407) 566-2208 [/size]
[signature]