Gordon hangs on to win Co-angler Division on Devils Lake

Willmar, Minn., native staves off intense push from Grzadzieleski

SPIRIT LAKE, N.D. – Co-angler Fred Gordon did just enough on the final day to win the Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour Open on Devils Lake. Gordon was partnered with Kevin Goligowski on day four and caught five walleyes that weighed 14 pounds, 15 ounces. Gordon finished the tournament with a total of 20 walleyes weighing 80 pounds, 12 ounces.

“Winning a tournament like this with the amount of good anglers, it feels great,” said Gordon. “I thought we’d be close. As they moved up (in the bump tanks), it appeared like I might have a chance. This was so unexpected.”

Gordon wanted to thank all of his pros, especially his day-four partner, Goligowski.

“Kevin did a tremendous job with that wind,” he said. “The poor cameraman that was with us got bounced around pretty good by those waves.”

Gordon received $10,000 for his victory on Devils Lake.

Grzadzieleski rises to second

Coming in second for the co-anglers was Thomas Grzadzieleski of Drayton, N.D. Grzadzieleski started the day in seventh place and made the unlikely run to second thanks to a 25-pound, 4-ounce catch. He finished the tournament with 79 pounds, 3 ounces earning a purse of $6,000.

“We were casting cranks all day, and we hit four early in the morning,” said Grzadzieleski. “I’m happy with our performance. It’s made me think about trying the pro side in a few years. All my pros were great; if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here.”

Zimney third

Co-angler Daryl Zimney of Jamestown, N.D., moved up one place with a 17-pound, 5-ounce limit and finished in third. His four-day total weight was 77 pounds, 6 ounces, good for $5,500.

“It was tough fishing, but it was fun,” said Zimney.

Magness falls to fourth

Mark Magness of Fargo, N.D., was able to catch five walleyes on Saturday, but still dropped to the fourth spot among the co-anglers with a total weight of 74 pounds, 13 ounces. Magness’ fourth-place finish earned him $3,000.

“This was an awful lot of fun,” said Magness. “Who could imagine that I would be here now? My pros were fabulous, and they taught me a lot.”

Hight finishes fifth

Fifth place went to John Hight of Pierre, S.D., who boated three walleyes that weighed 14 pounds, 8 ounces. Hight’s four-day total weight was 67 pounds, 11 ounces, which earned him a check for $3,300.

Rounding out the top 10 co-angler finalists at the FLW Walleye Tour Open on Devils Lake:

6th: Brian Drake of Merrimac, Wis., 66-8

7th: Jason Treptau of Becker, Minn., 64-3

8th: Mike Zawistowski of Wonder Lake, Ill., 62-1

9th: Randy Blasky of Fordville, N.D., 60-13

10th: David Tufte of Audubon, Minn., 58-0

FLW Walleye Tour competition resumes Sept. 28-Oct. 1 for the Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour Championship on the Mississippi River in Moline, Ill.