Turner takes Texas Tournament Trail Co-angler Championship title
Texas native captures first place in Co-angler Division, wins $10,000 in cash plus Ranger boat package
ROCKWALL, Texas – By almost any objective measure, Rick Turner of Tyler, Texas, has had a banner year on the professional bass-fishing circuit. After turning in a second-place finish in the Co-angler Division at the FLW Tour Atchafalaya Basin event in February, Turner followed that up with a 12th-place finish at the 2003 FLW Championship in Richmond, Va. But just when he thought things couldn’t get much better, Turner used a two-day catch of 21 pounds, 15 ounces to come from behind and capture the TTT Co-angler Championship title in today’s finals.
“It’s great. It’s exciting,” said Turner, who won $10,000 as well as a brand new Ranger boat valued at $30,000. “I had really high expectations coming into this tournament, and it’s nice to be able to finally put the finishing touches on this. It’s the last tournament of the year for me. What a way to go out.”
Turner, who used a 4-inch Zoom finesse worm to land the majority of his catch, said he thought the battle for first place would come down to the wire today. And he was correct. In the end, Turner – one of the last co-anglers to weigh in – won the title by less than 2 pounds.
“After yesterday’s catch, I knew that I had a good shot at the title,” said Turner. “But I also knew that I was going to need a really good limit today. When I finally got that weight in the boat, I started feeling pretty good. But right to the end, I really didn’t know if I had enough to win.”
Turner said that he will undoubtedly take away many positive memories from his first-ever win.
“I’ve been excited all week,” he said. “It’s just been a great year for me overall. I can’t wait until next season.”
Anderson loses tough battle
After leading the tournament after the first day of competition, Charlie Anderson of Marble Falls, Texas, knew the tournament title was within reach. Unfortunately for Anderson, his two-day catch of 20 pounds came up a little bit short.
“I knew it was going to be between me and (Turner), and I knew it was going to be really close,” said Anderson. “In the end, his three fish today were bigger than my three fish. It’s tough. I really wanted to win. Nobody remembers second place.”
Although today’s outcome was bittersweet for Anderson, he said that would be able to walk away knowing that he fished his very best.
“I fished about as hard as anybody could today,” he said. “I never gave up.”
Anderson, who used a Zoom Baby Brush Hog in a watermelon color to land the majority of his catch, won $4,500 for his efforts.
Best of the rest
Jason Barton of McGregor, Texas, used a two-day catch of 14 pounds, 8 ounces to finish in third place and walk away with $3,000 in prize money.
Fourth place belonged to Richard Hooter of Natchitoches, La. Hooter used a total catch of 13 pounds, 8 ounces to win $2,350.
Anthony Ferdinand of Spicewood, Texas, used a total catch of 12 pounds, 7 ounces to take home fifth place and $1,000 in prize money. Ferdinand won an additional $500 for netting the biggest bass of the tournament – an 8-pound, 7-ounce largemouth.
Rounding out the top 10 co-angler finalists were Armil Morgan (sixth) of Mineral Springs, Ark., with a catch of 11 pounds, 1 ounce; Richard Strother (seventh) of Tyler, Texas, with a catch of 10 pounds, 13 ounces; Homer McAlester (eighth) of Denison, Texas, with a catch of 10 pounds, 13 ounces; Brian Wendeborn (ninth) of Gatesville, Texas, with a catch of 10 pounds, 5 ounce; and Drew Rickman (10th) of Martindale, Texas, with a catch of 10 pounds.
The Texas Tournament Trail Championship marks the final event of the 2003 season.
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