Leatherman wins berth in Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League All-American
GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. – Todd Leatherman of Kuttawa, Ky., topped 238 boaters this weekend in the Chevy Trucks Wild Card on Kentucky Lake to win a berth in the 2002 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League All-American June 5-8 on Cross Lake near Shreveport, La.
Leatherman landed five bass weighing 11 pounds, 8 ounces Friday then added five more bass weighing 16 pounds, 5 ounces Saturday for a two-day winning total of 27 pounds, 13 ounces.
Other boaters winning a spot in the prestigious All-American were Kenneth Stone of Silver Creek, Ga., with six bass weighing 24 pounds, 5 ounces; Sammy Bray of Rocky Mount, N.C., with six bass weighing 20 pounds, 11 ounces; Bill Douglas of Kansas City, Mo., with five bass weighing 16 pounds, 1 ounce; Robert Ewick of Indianapolis, Ind., with six bass weighing 15 pounds; and Edward Waits III of Pine Bluff, Ark., with six bass weighing 14 pounds, 1 ounce.
Randy Johnson of Hogansville, Ga., took first place in the Co-angler Division and received a berth in the All-American with a two-day total of five bass weighing 15 pounds, 14 ounces.
Other co-anglers winning a spot in the All-American were Ryan Varner of Highland, Ill., with three bass weighing 9 pounds; Wayne Remington of Lincoln, Neb., with two bass weighing 7 pounds, 4 ounces; John Cathcart of Alexander, Ark., with two bass weighing 6 pounds, 14 ounces; Jerry Christian of Sallisaw, Okla., with two bass weighing 6 pounds, 12 ounces; and Scott Burns of Nancy, Ky., with two bass weighing 6 pounds, 7 ounces.
Anglers from 22 BFL divisions who entered all five qualifying events in their region but who did not otherwise qualify for post-season competition were eligible to compete in the Chevy Trucks Wild Card for one last chance at making the 2002 Wal-Mart BFL All-American, which features an estimated purse of $345,000 and ranks as one of the most lucrative post-season tournaments in competitive angling. Four hundred and seventy-six competitors turned out for the event.
In addition to the six boaters and six co-anglers from the Wild Card, five regional championships each advance eight boaters and co-anglers to the All-American. Four boaters and co-anglers will advance from a sixth regional. A total of 50 boater and 50 co-anglers will compete in the All-American for top awards of $100,000 cash in the Boater Division and $50,000 cash in the Co-angler Division. At the All-American, Ranger Boats will also award a new Ranger 518VX Comanche boat to the highest placing boater participating in the Ranger Cup incentive program.
More than $5.7 million could be awarded across 22 BFL divisions nationwide during the 2001 season based on full fields at each tournament.