Virtual Championship 2006: Bracket 15
Opening round – Bracket 15: Fukae vs. Jones
Virtual Championship 2006
Opening round – Bracket 15: Fukae vs. Jones
Another exciting season of tour-level pro bass fishing drew to a close in record-smashing fashion on Lake Champlain, leaving only the Wal-Mart FLW Tour Championship on the horizon before 2006 is etched forever in the history books. FLWOutdoors.com will once again host its own “virtual championship” – a featured daily poll where readers can make their own picks and weigh in on who they think will be crowned champion during the Aug. 2-5 year-ending event on Logan Martin Lake in Birmingham, Ala.
In the days leading up to the championship, FLWOutdoors.com will ask readers to vote on who they think will advance in each of the daily bracket challenges (polls are located on the right-hand side of the FLW Outdoors and FLW Tour home pages). After each day’s votes are tabulated, the virtual championship bracket will be immediately updated to reflect the readers’ choices.
Will fishing fans correctly forecast the winner of this year’s championship? Vote each day to support your favorite qualified angler and to learn more about the 48 pros who will actually compete on Logan Martin Lake for a top prize of $500,000.
Today’s featured bracket matchup: Shinichi Fukae (No. 15) vs. Alton Jones (No. 34)
Shinichi Fukae – No. 15 seed: Shinichi Fukae of Mineola, Texas, got off to an impressive start this season, winning the season opener on Lake Okeechobee in Clewiston, Fla., and then the Wal-Mart Open on Beaver Lake in Rogers, Ark., earning $300,000 in the first half of the season alone. Not only does he have two FLW Tour wins this year, he also has one other top-five on the tour and one top-five finish on the FLW Series at Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Ga. Fukae has only been fishing FLW Outdoors events since 2004, but he has already amassed an astonishing $476,800 in tournament winnings, including two wins and seven top-10 finishes in only 22 events. With this record and the confidence Fukae has in his angling ability, he will definitely make his presence known at the championship. Patience, perseverance and confidence are some traits that make great professional bass fishermen, and Fukae has them all.
Alton Jones – No. 34 seed: Alton Jones of Waco, Texas, is just waiting for his chance to pounce on the first-place prize. This matchup should be a good one, as it pits a relative newcomer with great numbers against a well-known veteran with an impressive history. Jones has fished 42 FLW Outdoors events since 1998 and has earned more $250,000 in career winnings. He has had five top-10 finishes, but has yet to claim his first FLW Tour win. He has fished very consistently making it to the championship in 2005, 2004, 2002 and 1999. In 2005, he finished sixth in the championship. With his years of tournament-tested experience and consistent finishes, it is only a matter of time before he closes in on his first victory. With a look at his tournament records and the waters he has fished, his strengths seem very versatile, and he has become confident in many different patterns and conditions. With all this compiled, it’s time to sit back and watch it unfold. What better time to grab your first victory than at the FLW Tour Championship?
Virtual Championship 2006 (click for complete details and poll results)
Wal-Mart FLW Tour Championship 2006 (click for more information)
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