LEESBURG, Fla. — The whims of Florida's wintertime weather struck again
Sunday in the final round of the $618,000 CITGO Bassmaster Tour event on
the Harris Chain of Lakes, shaking up the leaderboard and pushing a pair
of Floridians into the top two spots.
Instead of cold, this time it was wind - brisk and relentless - playing
havoc with the chain's resident largemouths, even causing two of the six
finalists to strike out completely.
Somehow it played into the hands of Peter Thliveros and Jim Bitter, who
moved up from second and third, respectively, to capture the top spots.
Thliveros, 44, from Jacksonville, brought in the day's largest catch (19
pounds, 15 ounces), earning the Busch Heavyweight award for the day and
posting his fourth BASS victory with 69 pounds, five ounces. He took home
a cool $100,000 for his efforts, plus an additional $2,000 for having the
Busch Heavyweight bag on both the third and final day.
Bitter, 62, a hometown favorite from nearby Fruitland Park, weighed in an
impressive 18-9, but fell 1 pound, 11 ounces short with 67-10. He earned
$40,000.
Third-round leader Todd Faircloth of Texas managed just 12-3 Sunday and
fell to third place with 64-6, followed by North Carolina's Guy Eaker
(15-12 Sunday) with 60-14. Fifth-place finisher Larry Nixon (46-9) of
Arkansas and California's Aaron Martens (42-5) both zeroed on Sunday.
Bitter took Sunday's Purolator Big Bass Award with an eight-pound,
nine-ounce largemouth. It earned him an extra $1,000.
Thliveros scored a much appreciated victory on the day that Super Bowl
XXXIX was taking place in his hometown.
"It's just unbelievable," said Thliveros, who last won a BASS event in
1997. "It's almost as good as the first time. The first time was fabulous,
and this time it's almost surreal."
"I'm still floating. I don't even really know where I'm at. The
adrenaline's flowing."
Thliveros' success came in the shallow grass in Lake Eustis on a 1/2-ounce
Team Supreme spinnerbait thrown on 20-pound monofilament line. He also
used a Zoom Brush Hog and paddletail worm on 14-pound line.
Peter T's strategy involved targeting spawning bass that others
overlooked. He used the spinnerbait early and the soft-plastics later in
the day.
"Going out this morning, I thought my chances were pretty good," he said.
"I really did. I don't know why I thought they were pretty good. I just
had a good feeling. For once, I didn't have any negative thoughts. I
didn't talk myself out of it. I just kind of kept myself in a positive
frame of mind and really, really worked hard."
It was a disappointing ending for Bitter, the early leader and a clear
favorite among the Leesburg fishing fans. The five-time BASS winner won a
BASS MegaBucks event here in 1989.
"Sure, I'm disappointed. I had a great opportunity to win this thing," he
said. "I was on plenty of fish. I just didn't control my area well
enough."
Bitter shared the Yale Canal with several top finishers, including Eaker.
He scored by pitching two sizes of a Brush Hog into shallow vegetation for
bedding bass that he couldn't see.
For Faircloth, it was another near miss at his first BASS victory. His
third place showing leaves him with two seconds and two thirds on his
tournament résumé.
"I felt really good going out this morning," Faircloth said. "I had a
2-pound lead, and I felt good about my area.
"What I was most concerned about was that my bites were coming so late in
the day. That was the situation again today. I didn't catch my first bass
until 10:00, and I caught three after 12 o'clock."
In the Purolator Big Bass Fan Contest, Brian Naugle won the luck of the
draw and was paired with Bitter. When his 8-9 largemouth hit the scales,
Naugle earned the $1,000 prize.
Catch all the action from the CITGO Bassmaster Tour event on the Harris
Chain on The CITGO Bassmasters next Saturday, Feb. 12, at 10:00 a.m. ET.
2005 Florida CITGO Bassmaster Tour Pro 02/03-02/06
Harris Chain of Lakes, Leesburg, Fla.
(PRO Division) Standings Day 4
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total
$$$
1. Peter E Thliveros Jacksonville, Fla. 19 69-05 305
$102,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 16-09 Day 3: 5 16-13 Day 4: 4
19-15
2. Jim Bitter Fruitland Park, Fla. 18 67-10 305
$40,000.00
Day 1: 5 26-12 Day 2: 5 13-09 Day 3: 3 8-12 Day 4: 5
18-09
3. Todd Faircloth Jasper, Texas 19 64-06 295
$23,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-02 Day 2: 5 18-05 Day 3: 5 15-12 Day 4: 4
12-03
4. Guy Eaker Cherryville, N.C. 19 60-14 285
$20,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 17-14 Day 3: 4 11-14 Day 4: 5
15-12
5. Larry Nixon Bee Branch, Ark. 13 46-09 280
$15,000.00
Day 1: 3 16-14 Day 2: 5 16-02 Day 3: 5 13-09 Day 4: 0
0-00
6. Aaron Martens Castaic, Calif. 11 42-05 276
$14,000.00
Day 1: 5 26-03 Day 2: 1 2-04 Day 3: 5 13-14 Day 4: 0
0-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Purolator Big Bass
Day
1 Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, Ala. 9-07 $1,000.00
2 Art Ferguson III Saint Clair Shores, Mich. 11-01 $1,000.00
3 Mark Rogers Naples, Fla. 7-13 $1,000.00
4 Jim Bitter Fruitland Park, Fla. 8-09 $1,000.00
Purolator Big Bass of Tournament
Art Ferguson III Saint Clair Shores, Mich. 11-01 $1,000.00
Busch Heavyweight
Jim Bitter Fruitland Park, Fla. 26-12 $1,000.00
Scott Rook Little Rock, Ark. 22-08 $1,000.00
Peter E Thliveros Jacksonville, Fla. 16-13 $1,000.00
Peter E Thliveros Jacksonville, Fla. 19-15 $1,000.00
CITGO Angler of the Year Leader
David Walker Sevierville, Tenn. $1,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 37 434 1061-09
2 56 524 1276-04
3 5 41 112-07
4 2 18 66-07
----------------------------------
100 1017 2516-11
Busch Heavyweight
NAME LAKE LBSOZS
------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------
Jim Bitter Harris Chain of Lakes, FL 26-12
Scott Rook Harris Chain of Lakes, FL 22-8
Peter Thliveros Harris Chain of Lakes, FL 19-15
Takahiro Omori Toho/Kissimmee, FL 17-15
Peter Thliveros Harris Chain of Lakes, FL 16-13
Kevin Wirth Toho/Kissimmee, FL 15-5
Gerald Swindle Toho/Kissimmee, FL 12-4
Jeff Reynolds Toho/Kissimmee, FL 8-13
2005 ANGLER OF THE YEAR PRO Points
After Leesburg, Fla. Ending 02-06-2005
-------------------------------------------
Place Name St Pts
-------------------------------------------
1 David Walker Tenn. 530
2 Takahiro Omori Texas 520
3 Scott Rook Ark. 513
4 Skeet Reese Calif. 507
5 Andre Moore Ariz. 505
6 Guy Eaker N.C. 498
7 George Cochran Ark. 481
8 Terry Scroggins Fla. 475
9 Curt Lytle Va. 458
10 Kevin Wirth Ky. 452
11 Ron Shuffield Ark. 450
12 Jeff Reynolds Okla. 449
13 Todd Faircloth Texas 442
14 Mike Reynolds Calif. 440
14 Mark Rizk Ala. 440
16 Ishama Monroe Calif. 436
17 Gerald Swindle Ala. 427
18 Marty Stone N.C. 426
19 Luke Clausen Wash. 422
20 Mark Tyler Ariz. 420
21 Jay Yelas Texas 417
22 Jimmy Mize Ark. 416
23 John Crews Va. 415
24 Tim Horton Ala. 402
25 Brian Snowden Mo. 397
26 Roger Boler La. 392
27 Aaron Martens Calif. 375
28 Larry Nixon Ark. 371
29 Art Ferguson III Mich. 368
30 Alton Jones Texas 362
31 O T Fears III Okla. 358
32 Peter E Thliveros Fla. 349
33 Lee Bailey Conn. 348
34 Michael Iaconelli N.J. 346
35 Greg Hackney La. 344
36 Mike Wurm Ark. 342
37 Jim Bitter Fla. 341
38 Dave Wolak Pa. 338
39 Jeff Kriet Okla. 336
39 Bernie Schultz Fla. 336
39 Dean Rojas Texas 336
42 Kevin VanDam Mich. 333
43 Robert Hamilton Jr Miss. 330
44 Dustin Wilks N.C. 324
45 David Dudley Va. 320
45 Darryl Burkhardt Ore. 320
47 Woo Daves Va. 319
48 Kelly Jordon Texas 312
49 Chip Hawkins Ark. 310
50 Tommy Martin Texas 305
51 John Murray Ariz. 304
51 Kenyon Hill Okla. 304
53 Edwin Evers Okla. 300
53 Shaw E Grigsby, Jr Fla. 300
55 Scott Suggs Ark. 298
56 Roland Martin Fla. 294
56 Jimmy Houston Okla. 294
58 Mark Rogers Fla. 290
58 Chad Brauer Mo. 290
60 Mark Tucker Mo. 284
60 Joe Thomas Ohio 284
60 Jay Kendrick Tenn. 284
63 Greg Gutierrez Calif. 283
64 Chad Morgenthaler Ill. 282
64 Tom Biffle Okla. 282
64 Brent Chapman Kan. 282
67 David Mansue N.J. 278
68 Denny Brauer Mo. 272
69 David Fritts N.C. 260
69 Stephen Browning Ark. 260
71 Gary Yamamoto Texas 256
72 Norio Tanabe Japan 255
72 Jeff Magee Miss. 255
74 Rick Morris Va. 251
74 Tim Loper Miss. 251
76 Kevin Short Ark. 250
77 Tom Mann, Jr Ga. 248
77 Randy Yarnall Pa. 248
79 Paul Elias Miss. 247
80 Pete Gluszek N.J. 246
80 Harold Allen Texas 246
80 Bud Pruitt Texas 246
83 Ben Matsubu Texas 242
84 Rick Clunn Mo. 241
85 Frank Scalish Ohio 240
86 Byron Velvick Nev. 238
86 R J Bennett Calif. 238
88 Mike Auten Ky. 236
88 Stacey D King Mo. 236
90 Preston Clark Fla. 234
91 Terry Butcher Okla. 233
92 Cliff Pace Miss. 232
93 Homer Humphreys, Jr La. 231
94 Gary Klein Texas 226
94 Randy Howell Ala. 226
96 Doug Garrett Ark. 224
96 Fred Roumbanis Calif. 224
98 Russ Lane Ala. 222
99 Frank Ippoliti Md. 220
100 Chris Baumgardner N.C. 219
101 Mike Hicks Va. 218
102 Chris Bielert Conn. 216
103 Jarrett Edwards Colo. 208
104 Tommy Stiles Tenn. 203
105 Ray Sedgwick S.C. 202
106 David Gliebe Calif. 200
107 Dion Hibdon Mo. 197
108 Todd Auten S.C. 195
108 Gerald Gostenik Mich. 195
110 Matt Reed Texas 190
111 Mark Menendez Ky. 187
112 Jesse Draime Miss. 184
113 Jack A Gadlage Ky. 182
114 Mike McClelland Ark. 180
115 Chris Daves Va. 170
116 Brett Hite Ariz. 165
117 Danny White Ga. 163
117 Ken Cook Okla. 163
119 Zachary Thompson Calif. 158
120 Morizo Shimizu Calif. 156
121 Charlie Hartley Ohio 153
122 Randy Blaukat Mo. 152
123 Marcel Veenstra Mich. 151
124 Jason Quinn S.C. 150
125 Mark Rose Ark. 149
126 David Wharton Texas 146
127 Cody Bird Texas 145
128 Thad Takes Iowa 144
129 Sean Hoernke Texas 143
129 Kotaro Kiriyama Ala. 143
131 Mark Davis Ark. 142
132 Jason Reyes Texas 136
133 Charlie Youngers Fla. 134
134 Robert Lee Calif. 133
135 Louis Iribarren N.Y. 123
136 Zell Rowland Texas 122
137 Davy Hite S.C. 117
138 Brooks Rogers Texas 114
139 Yusuke Miyazaki Texas 107
140 Jimmy Mason Ala. 104
141 Johnny Lesesne Ga. 103
142 Charlie Weyer Calif. 100
143 Elton Luce Jr Texas 98
144 Bink Desaro Idaho 97
145 Mike O'Shea Calif. 93
146 Kyle Mabrey Ala. 87
147 Terry Adams La. 84
147 Randy Dearman Texas 84
149 Terry Baksay Conn. 83
150 Eric Nethery Ga. 72
151 Steve Sennikoff Texas 71
151 Tim Carroll Okla. 71
151 Grant Goldbeck Md. 71
154 Pete Ponds Miss. 65
155 Jack Wade Tenn. 53
156 Steve Daniel Fla. 51
156 Bradley Stringer Texas 51
158 David Cooke N.C. 33
TOYOTA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
2005 Tournament Year
After LEESBURG, FL ending 02-06-2005
Place Angler Name City State Total Points
1 Andre Moore Scottsdale Ariz. 505
2 David Wolak Warrior Run Pa. 338
3 Chip Hawkins White Hall Ark. 310
4 Greg Gutierrez Red Bluff Calif. 283
5 Preston Clark Palatka Fla. 234
6 Terry Butcher Talala Okla. 233
7 Cliff Pace Petal Miss. 232
8 Fred Roumbanis Auburn Calif. 224
9 Russell Lane Prattville Ala. 222
10 Chris Bielert Danbury Conn. 216
11 David Gliebe Stockton Calif. 200
12 Jesse Draime Long Beach Miss. 184
13 Zachary Thompson Orinda Calif. 158
14 Thad Takes Center Point Iowa 144
15 Louis Iribarren Port Jervis N.Y. 123
16 Terry Adams Morgan City La. 84
17 Grant Goldbeck Gaithersburg Md. 71
18 Bradley Stringer Huntington Texas 51
19 David Cooke Mooresville N.C. 33
2005 Toyota Horizon Award
After LEESBURG, FL ending 02-06-2005
---------------------------------------------------------
Place Name 2004 Finish 2005 Standings
---------------------------------------------------------
1 Roger Boler 153 26
2 Todd Faircloth 116 13
3 Curt Lytle 106 9
4 Jeff Magee 158 72
5 John Crews 107 23
6 Jay Kendrick 143 60
7 Robert Hamilton Jr 124 43
8 Woo Daves 127 47
8 Gary Yamamoto 151 71
10 Norio Tanabe 148 72
11 Mark Rizk 89 14
12 Mike Reynolds 85 14
13 Jeff Kriet 109 39
14 Jeff Reynolds 80 12
15 Mike Wurm 103 36
16 Stephen Browning 131 69
16 Frank Scalish 147 85
18 Pete Gluszek 138 80
19 Guy Eaker 63 6
20 Art Ferguson III 84 29
20 Mark Tyler 75 20
22 Roland Martin 110 56
23 Tom Mann, Jr 130 77
24 Scott Rook 55 3
25 David Mansue 117 67
26 Jimmy Houston 105 56
26 Homer Humphreys, Jr 142 93
28 Luke Clausen 67 19
28 Rick Morris 122 74
30 Ron Shuffield 58 11
31 Jimmy Mize 67 22
32 George Cochran 48 7
32 Ishama Monroe 57 16
34 Byron Velvick 126 86
34 Michael Hicks 141 101
36 Frank Ippoliti 135 99
36 Doug Garrett 132 96
38 Jay Yelas 56 21
38 Tommy Stiles 139 104
40 Larry Nixon 62 28
41 Terry Scroggins 40 8
42 David Walker 27 1
43 Darryl Burkhardt 70 45
43 Kenyon Hill 76 51
43 Jarrett Edwards 128 103
46 Kevin Wirth 33 10
46 O T Fears III 54 31
48 David Fritts 91 69
49 John Murray 72 51
50 Randy Yarnall 97 77
50 Danny White 137 117
52 Ken Cook 136 117
53 R J Bennett 102 86
54 Joe Thomas 74 60
55 Kevin Short 86 76
56 Dustin Wilks 53 44
57 Tim Loper 82 74
58 Takahiro Omori 9 2
58 Mark Rogers 65 58
60 Brian Snowden 30 25
61 Skeet Reese 5 4
