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 Elite 50 UpdateMONTGOMERY, Ala. - As the first event of the Bassmaster Elite 50 series on Lake Dardenelle in Russellville, Ark., draws near, pro BASS angler Roger Boler is getting a little less sleep at night. If the series started today, Boler, a Louisiana angler who zoomed into national spotlight during the 2003 season of the CITGO Bassmaster Tour presented by Busch Beer, would squeak in just under the wire. The criteria for a berth in the 50-angler field requires anglers to either be the in the top 20 on the BASS All-time Money List, or be in the top 27 based on CITGO Bassmaster Angler of the Year point totals from the past three Tour seasons, with the remaining three spots going to the 2003 CITGO Bassmaster Classic champion, 2004 CITGO Bassmaster Angler of the Year, and the 2004 BASS Rookie of the Year. Boler, who's 27th on the points list with 1,311 cumulative points, is only three points ahead of Oklahoma's Jeff Kriet, who has amassed 1,308. For Boler, the situation is less than comfortable, particularly since the 10 anglers hot on his heels are all within 64 points of his slim lead. "I think there is less than 100 points separating me from the 10th place guy on the bubble," Boler said. "And with the new points system now, things could change in a hurry. I just have to put some fish in the boat. I was 14th going into the season, and now it's just a matter of putting the fish together. I feel good about the lakes we're going to from here on out. I think Smith Lake was hard on everyone, though. "I'm just going to do the best I can and fish my hardest," Boler added. "It won't affect me that much. I don't let things like that bother me. I really hope I do get in, though. It's a real special, unique program BASS is introducing." Oklahoma's Ken Cook, a contender for the one of the money list slots, is currently on the outside looking in and longs to become the next angler to qualify. With $640,067.20, he currently sits 21st on the list, with a little over $30,000 separating him from the 20th-place money winner, Peter Thliveros, whose current winnings total $671,654. "I've gotten myself in a little hole," Cook said. "I think if I can win an event, I could get in, though. I've just got to get myself turned around. I'm pretty disappointed with the way I finished these first two events, but it all comes down to getting the fish in the boat. "I'm not giving up, I can promise you that," added the 1991 CITGO Bassmaster Classic champion. "It's tough, once you're out of it, but I think with a couple of good tournaments, I could be back in it." The Elite 50 qualifiers from the points and the money will continue to shift as the Tour heads to Alabama's Lake Guntersville, Feb. 26-29, for the third event of six on the 2004 Tour schedule. Only four events remain until the opening tournament of the Elite 50 series, taking place on Lake Dardenelle in Russellville, Ark., April 14-17. Sponsors of the CITGO Bassmaster Tournament Trail presented by Busch Beer include CITGO Petroleum Corp., Busch Beer, Purolator, Triton Boats, Skeeter Boats, Mercury Marine, Yamaha Outboards, Berkley, Abu Garcia, Lowrance Electronics, Flowmaster Exhaust Systems, MotorGuide, Bass Pro Shops, and BankOne. Associate Sponsors include G3 Boats and Bryant Heating and Air Conditioning. |
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