Greer wins Co-Angler Division
DETROIT – Larry Nixon of Bee Branch, Ark., will lead five pros into the final round of the Wal-Mart FLW Tour’s $1 million Forrest Wood Open on Lake St. Clair after landing five bass weighing 14 pounds, 2 ounces Friday.
He and four other finalists in the Pro Division start from scratch Saturday in a final bid for the tournament’s top award of $200,000 cash-one of the richest awards in competitive fishing.
“I feel like I know what to do, I’m just not sure if the fish will be there,” said Nixon, who is one of the sport’s all-time leading professionals. “You just have to do the best you can and hope you don’t panic too bad.”
Also advancing to the final round are Mickey Bruce of Buford, Ga., who qualified as the No. 2 seed with five bass weighing 12 pounds, 12 ounces; Steve Daniel of Clewiston, Fla., No. 3 with five bass weighing 12 pounds, 10 ounces; David Dudley of Manteo, N.C., No. 4 with five bass weighing 9 pounds, 14 ounces; and Jimmy Millsaps of Canton, Ga., No. 5 with four bass weighing 9 pounds, 10 ounces.
Kelly Greer of Green Forest, Ark., captured top honors in the Co-Angler Division Friday and pocketed $40,000 plus a year’s supply of CITGO gasoline with five bass weighing 11 pounds, 8 ounces. Michael Brown of Chatsworth, Ga. (three bass, 10 pounds, $20,000) and John Jacobs of Birmingham, Ala. (four bass, 8-3, $10,000) finished second and third respectively.
Wesley Burnett of Hot Springs, Ark., landed the Eagle Co-Angler of the Year title with an ninth place finish on Lake St. Clair. For his accomplishment, Burnett will receive a Ranger R91 boat powered by Yamaha along with priority entry into the Pro Division of the 2002 Wal-Mart FLW Tour.
Competition at the Forrest Wood Open, presented by Kellogg’s, continues at 6 a.m. Saturday at Metro Beach Metropark in Mt. Clemens, Mich., followed by a 3:30 p.m. weigh-in at the Wal-Mart SuperCenter on Van Dyke Ave. in Warren, Mich. A Family Fun Zone featuring fishing seminars, free product samples, interactive displays and children’s games will open in the Wal-Mart parking lot starting at 11 a.m.