Randall Hutson of Washburn, Missouri, won first place and a record $200,000 in the Forrest Wood Open, the sixth tournament of the Wal-Mart FLW Tour held on the Connecticut River. The event featured a $1 million purse, the largest in fishing history.
Hutson survived three rounds of elimination competition and 149 other top professional anglers en route to the Wal-Mart FLW Tour victory. Competing in the final round of competition against Jim Moynagh of Hopkins, MN, Jerry Williams of Conway, AR, Mike Mcclelland of Springdale, AR, and Terry Bolton of Paducah, KY, Hutson landed five bass weighing 8 pounds, 6 ounces, to take top honors.
In addition to his win in the Forrest Wood Open, Hutson also secured a berth in the year-end Wal-Mart FLW Tour’s $450,000 Championship on the Mississippi River in Moline, Illinois, September 16-19, 1998, where he will compete against 49 other professional anglers for a $250,000 first place cash prize — the largest in fishing history.
Hutson caught his winning stringer using a Lucky Strike French Fry and a 3 inch lizard. “I am speechless,” said Hutson immediately after winning the richest bass tournament in history. “This is the most exciting time of my life.”
Runner-up in the Pro Division was Jim Moynagh of Hopkins, Minnesota, with a weight of 7 pounds, 4 ounces. Moynagh, who won the event last year, earned $100,000 for second place.
Jerry Williams of Conway, Arkansas, landed five bass weighing 7 pounds, 3 ounces, for third place and $50,000. Rounding out the “Final Five” were: (4) Mike Mcclelland of Springdale, Arkansas, four bass, 4 pounds, 10 ounces, $35,000; and (5) Terry Bolton of Paducah, Kentucky, one bass, 2 pounds, 5 ounces, $30,000.
In the Amateur Division competition, concluded yesterday, Frank Free of Buford, Georgia, took top honors and $40,000 for his catch totaling 12 pounds, 8 ounces.
Denny Brauer of Camdenton, Missouri, has been named the Land O’Lakes Angler-of-the-Year for amassing the highest point total in the first six 1998 Wal-Mart FLW Tour events. Brauer will be featured on a special edition Wheaties, Breakfast of Champions, cereal box to be distributed nationally. Brauer is the first angling champion to grace the famous cereal box in its 74-year history.
Wal-Mart FLW Tour officials have announced that in 1999, the tour will feature a record $3.97 million in cash prizes to be awarded during the seven-event schedule. The 1999 tour schedule will include stops at: Lake Okeechobee, Clewiston, FL, January 27-30; Lake Murray, Columbia, SC, February 24-27; Lake Lanier, Gainesville,GA, March 17-20; Beaver Lake (Wal-Mart Open), Bentonville, AR, April 21-24; Mississippi River, Memphis, TN, May 19-22; Lake St. Clair (Forrest Wood Open), St. Clair, MI, June 23-26; To Be Announced (Wal-Mart FLW Tour Championship), September 22-25.
Wal-Mart FLW Tour
Forrest Wood Open
Final Standings
Place Name Hometown, State Day 1&2 Day 3 Day 4 Winnings
—- —– ————— ——- —– —– ——–
1 RANDALL HUTSON WASHBURN, MO 20-12 12-9 8-6 $200,000
2 JIM MOYNAGH HOPKINS, MN 23-4 8-5 7-4 100,000
3 JERRY WILLIAMS CONWAY, AR 16-6 5-8 7-3 50,000
4 MIKE MCCLELLAND SPRINGDALE, AR 17-1 5-7 4-10 35,000
5 TERRY BOLTON PADUCAH, KY 14-0 4-12 2-5 30,000
6 BILLY SCHROEDER PADUCAH, KY 13-12 3-11 24,000
7 RANDY HOWELL LITTLETON, NC 17-13 2-12 23,000
8 TOMMY BIFFLE WAGONER, OK 15-7 2-9 22,000
9 BASIL BACON SPRINGFIELD, MO 18-10 2-3 21,000
10 ALVIN SHAW STATE ROAD, NC 16-11 2-1 20,000
11 LEROY JR BAILEY HEBRON, CT 13-11 15,000
12 DENNY BRAUER CAMDENTON, MO 13-7 15,000
13 KEN COOK MEERS, OK 12-6 15,000
14 GERALD SWINDLE WARRIOR, AL 11-15 15,000
15 ROB KILBY HOT SPRINGS NP, AR 11-13 15,000
16 DAVID SMITH DEL CITY, OK 11-11 10,000
16 O III T FEARS SALLISAW, OK 11-11 10,000
18 JOEL RICHARDSON KERNERSVILLE, NC 11-2 10,000
19 GARY KLEIN WEATHERFORD, TX 10-15 10,000
19 DAVID ROSENGRANT DOVER, TN 10-15 10,000
21 ROLAND MARTIN CLEWISTON, FL 10-14 7,500
22 DAVY HITE PROSPERITY, SC 10-2 7,500
23 PAUL ELIAS PACHUTA, MS 9-12 7,500
23 DARREN WOLF WACO, TX 9-12 7,500
25 GEORGE FORRESTER LULA, GA 9-11 7,500
26 RICKY DIEHL HUNTSVILLE, AL 9-7 4,750
27 CHRIS BAUMGARDNER GASTONIA, NC 8-15 4,750
28 RANDY MORRIS GARFIELD, AR 8-14 4,750
29 RANDY BLAUKAT JOPLIN, MO 8-13 4,750
30 JIMMY HOUSTON COOKSON, OK 8-12 4,750
31 BUD PRUITT SPRING, TX 8-11 4,750
32 CRAIG DANIEL CULLMAN, AL 8-7 4,750
33 EDDIE DIEHL HUNTSVILLE, AL 8-5 4,750
33 DAVID YOUNG MAYFIELD, KY 8-5 4,750
35 TERRY BAKSAY MONROE, CT 8-3 4,750
36 DAVID WALKER CANNON, KY 7-13 3,500
36 DANNY CORREIA MARLBORO, MA 7-13 3,500
38 BRYANT AILOR KNOXVILLE, TN 7-9 3,500
39 THOMAS C LAVICTOIRE WEST RUTLAND, VT 7-7 3,500
39 PETE THLIVEROS JACKSONVILLE, FL 7-7 3,500
41 TOMMY ELLIS PARIS, TN 7-4 3,500
41 TONY COUCH BUCKHEAD, GA 7-4 3,500
43 MIKE TERRY OBION, TN 7-1 3,500
44 GEORGE E COCHRAN HOT SPRINGS NP, AR 7-0 3,500
45 DAVID P DUDLEY LYNCHBURG, VA 6-15 3,250
45 CLARK WENDLANDT CEDAR PARK, TX 6-15 3,250
47 JACK HAINS MANY, LA 6-13 3,000
48 LARRY NIXON BEE BRANCH, AR 6-12 3,000
49 KOBY KREIGER OSCEOLA, IN 6-8 3,000
50 STEPHEN BROWNINGHOT SPRINGS NATIONAL, AR 6-7 3,000
50 GERALD BECK LEXINGTON, NC 6-7 3,000
50 STEVEN BONAIUTO PALM BAY, FL 6-7 3,000
53 CHARLIE INGRAM SANTA FE, TN 6-5 3,000
54 CHUCK ECONOMOU PALM BAY, FL 6-4 3,000
55 DARYL BYRON EAST WINDSOR, CT 6-3 3,000
56 SHAW GRIGSBY GAINESVILLE, FL 6-2 2,500
57 CRAIG WICKLUND ORONO, MN 5-15 2,500
58 TOM BURNS CARBONDALE, IL 5-13 2,500
58 STEVE FLOYD SABINA, OH 5-13 2,500
58 STEVE DANIEL CLEWISTON, FL 5-13 2,500
61 MARTY STONE KERNERSVILLE, NC 5-12 2,500
62 JERRY(DOC) R WRIGHT WACO, TX 5-5 2,500
63 JEFF MAGEE FLORENCE, MS 5-3 2,500
64 ANDY MORGAN DAYTON, TN 5-2 2,500
65 TRACY ADAMS WILKESBORO, NC 5-0 2,500
66 DANNY ROBERSON GILBERTSVILLE, KY 4-14 2,500
66 ELTON JR LUCE NEDERLAND, TX 4-14 2,500
68 ROBIN CUMMINGS CULLMAN, AL 4-12 2,500
69 RICK LILLEGARD ATKINSON, NH 4-11 2,500
70 GUIDO HIBDON GRAVOIS MILLS, MO 4-8 2,500
71 JAMES A PARKER FAYETTEVILLE, NC 4-7 2,500
72 BRENT CHAPMAN LAKE QUIVIRA, KS 4-6 2,500
73 SHAWN PENN BENTON, KY 4-4 2,500
73 MARK DAVIS MOUNT IDA, AR 4-4 2,500
75 WILLIE RIDGEWAY JACKSONVILLE, NC 4-3 2,500
*T