GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. – The nation’s premier bass fishing event, the Wal-Mart FLW Tour championship, originally scheduled for Sept. 12-15 in New York and postponed in light of the attack on our nation has been canceled. The $450,000 purse will be divided among the 100 contestants.
Operation Bass, the company responsible for the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, decided to cancel the championship event after officials consulted with anglers and sponsors. Television commitments and time elements also played a role in the decision according to Operation Bass president Charlie Hoover.
Contestants in the professional division will split a $385,000 purse and receive $7,700 each, while competitors in the co-angler division will divide a $65,000 purse and receive $1,300 apiece. The Wal-Mart FLW Tour championship is a no-entry-fee event.
As a result of the cancellation, the Wal-Mart FLW Tour Championship show that was originally scheduled to air on ESPN at 3 p.m. EST Oct. 14 and ESPN 2 at 10 a.m. EST Dec. 21 will be replaced by the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit championship to be held in Green Bay, Wis., Oct. 3-6.
“We are managing our business in a manner consistent with our desire to accommodate as many of our anglers and sponsors as possible while remaining sensitive to the unspeakable human tragedy unfolding around us,” Hoover said. “As Americans our thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims and their families. We will now move forward with our business, making adjustments as the situation dictates.”
Sponsors of the 2001 Wal-Mart FLW Tour are ALPO Pet Foods, BFGoodrich Tires, Black & Decker, Chevrolet, CITGO, Coleman, Conseco, Energizer, EverStart Batteries, Frito-Lay, Fujifilm, Kellogg’s, Land O’Lakes, Lowrance, Mercury Marine, Minn Kota, Pepsi, Plano Tackle Systems, Poulan, Ranger Boats, Shop-Vac, Snickers Cruncher Bar, Timex, US Bank, Visa, Wal-Mart, Weed Eater, Wrangler and Yamaha Outboards. ACDelco spark plugs and oil filters, David sunflower seeds, ACT II, Excalibur, Strike King, Eagle Claw and Daiwa are associate sponsors of the 2001 tour.