Bainbridge, Ga. - Trevor Fitzgerald of Ocala, Fla., got perfectly dialed in on the final day of the 2010 Bassmaster Southern Open finale on Lake Seminole. Fitzgerald, a 27-year-old p-2.olice deputy's sheriff, only caught three fish Thursday but refined his pattern Friday and put himself in position to catch the third heaviest limit of the bass fishing tournament Saturday - a 19-1 bag which built his three-day total to 44
Fitzgerald relied on a black-and-blue Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver pegged to a 1-ounce tungsten weight. He flipped the rig into matted hydrilla. For his win, he took home more than $35,000 and moved into 8th place in the Southern Opens points standings, which puts him right outside the 2011 Bassmaster Elite Series cut. However, if one angler doesn't accept the Elite invitation, Fitzgerald will have the opportunity - if he wants it.
"My wife and I have a few things to take care of before I can consider getting into that," he said. "But, to finally win something like this is huge. I've won some other tournaments, but nothing like this. This is by far the biggest win I've got."
Behind him in second was Day 2 leader Derek Allen of Ponchatoula, La. Allen said he let the tournament slip through his fingers as a "three- or four-pounder" fell off of the hook of his Spro Bronzeye frog.
"You live by the frog, and you die by the frog,"he said about the bait with which he caught most of his fish. "I made mental errors today and I lost it."
Allen weighed in 13-8 the final day for a total of 42-13. Behind him was Clint Brown of Bainbridge, Ga., who tallied 42-0 over three days. Brown's 23-pound, 7-ounce limit on Saturday was by far the biggest of the day and tournament. In fourth was Cliff Prince of Palatka, Fla., who managed 37-14 and fifth was Randall Tharp of Gardendale, Ala., with 37-4.
On the co-angler side, Fred Hood of Monroe, Ga., took the top prize of a fully rigged Skeeter/Yamaha boat and motor package. Hood had a three-day total of 20-11, which put him more than 3 pounds in front of runner-up Steven Wells of Bainbridge, Ga., who had 17-3. The full standings of both divisions can be found below.
With the conclusion of the 2010 Bassmaster Southern Opens, two Classic berths were awarded in addition to seven Elite Series invitations. With his fifth-place finish in the last Southern Opens stop, Tharp won the points race and will participate in his first Bassmaster Classic in 2011. Tharp has had much success on the Open level but still had fallen short of qualifying for the Classic until now.
"For anybody who knows anything about tournament bass fishing, going to the Classic is almost unreal," he said. "I've fished most every championship there is, but never the Classic. This is what I've wanted to do for quite some time."
Thanks in part to his win at the second stop in the Bassmaster Southern Open on Alabama's Smith Lake, Andy Montgomery of Blacksburg, S.C., took the second berth via the Opens.
"I can't wait to get there," he said. "I'm only 28, so to do it so early is great.".
With the Southern Opens in the books, the Opens will finish up Oct. 21-23 with the Bass Pro Shops Central Open on Lake Texoma. There, two Classic berths will be determined along with seven Elite invitations.
FINAL STANDINGS- BASS PRO SHOPS BASSMASTER SOUTHERN OPEN- LAKE SEMINOLE- PRO (BOATER) Standings Day 3 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Trevor Fitzgerald Ocklawaha, Fla. 13 44-02 305 $35,486.00 Day 1: 3 10-06 Day 2: 5 14-11 Day 3: 5 19-01 2. Derek Allen Ponchatoula, La. 15 42-13 300 $15,771.00 Day 1: 5 17-10 Day 2: 5 11-11 Day 3: 5 13-08 3. Clint Brown Bainbridge, Ga. 14 42-00 290 $11,040.00 Day 1: 4 11-15 Day 2: 5 6-10 Day 3: 5 23-07 4. Cliff Prince Palatka, Fla. 14 37-14 285 $7,886.00 Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 9-14 Day 3: 4 12-01 5. Randall Tharp Gardendale, Ala. 13 37-04 280 $7,097.00 Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 3 4-08 Day 3: 5 14-07 6. J T Kenney Palm Bay, Fla. 13 37-01 276 $6,309.00 Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 4 12-06 Day 3: 4 11-06 7. Derek Remitz Grant, Ala. 14 36-04 272 $5,520.00 Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 4 12-03 Day 3: 5 10-04 8. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, Fla. 11 35-08 268 $4,731.00 Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 4 14-11 Day 3: 2 6-07 9. Brad Pegram Henderson, N.C. 9 32-13 264 $3,943.00 Day 1: 4 16-11 Day 2: 2 5-07 Day 3: 3 10-11 10. Jim Murray Arabi, Ga. 15 31-14 260 $3,549.00 Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 11-08 Day 3: 5 9-13 11. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, S.C. 14 31-14 257 $3,154.00 Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 4 8-12 Day 3: 5 10-07 12. Brett Mitchell Timmonsville, S.C. 12 30-13 254 $2,760.00 Day 1: 3 6-01 Day 2: 4 10-07 Day 3: 5 14-05 13. Chris Lane Guntersville, Ala. 10 30-03 251 $2,366.00 Day 1: 3 12-08 Day 2: 2 5-09 Day 3: 5 12-02 14. Chad Prough Chipley, Fla. 15 29-13 248 $1,971.00 Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 8-00 Day 3: 5 9-10 15. Jason Knapp Uniontown, Pa. 15 29-09 245 $1,774.00 Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 9-09 Day 3: 5 8-12 16. David Kilgore Jasper, Ala. 9 29-09 243 $1,577.00 Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 2 7-04 Day 3: 2 4-10 17. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, Ala. 15 29-06 241 $1,498.00 Day 1: 5 8-05 Day 2: 5 8-06 Day 3: 5 12-11 18. Kyle Fox Lakeland, Fla. 11 28-14 244 $1,419.00 Day 1: 5 20-03 Day 2: 3 3-10 Day 3: 3 5-01 19. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, S.C. 11 28-07 237 $1,341.00 Day 1: 5 8-09 Day 2: 5 14-03 Day 3: 1 5-11 20. Bobby Smith Panama City, Fla. 13 28-04 235 $1,262.00 Day 1: 3 8-08 Day 2: 5 8-11 Day 3: 5 11-01 21. Jonathon Vandam Kalamazoo, Mich. 11 27-09 233 $1,143.00 Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 13-01 Day 3: 1 1-08 22. Keith Poche Troy, Ala. 15 26-05 231 $1,104.00 Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 7-04 Day 3: 5 7-00 23. George Crain Cropwell, Ala. 15 26-05 229 $1,065.00 Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 7-02 Day 3: 5 8-09 24. Eric Nethery Acworth, Ga. 11 24-06 227 $1,025.00 Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 3 5-02 Day 3: 3 7-01 25. Ben Quisno Maineville, Ohio 10 21-09 225 $986.00 Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 3 4-13 Day 3: 2 3-11 26. Koby Kreiger Okeechobee, Fla. 7 20-11 223 $946.00 Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 5 16-14 Day 3: 2 3-13 27. Harry Moore Valley, Ala. 10 19-13 221 $907.00 Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 4 4-08 Day 3: 1 2-15 28. Bob Morin Seymour, Tenn. 8 19-11 219 $867.00 Day 1: 4 13-13 Day 2: 2 2-13 Day 3: 2 3-01 29. Frank Jordan JR Bainbridge, Ga. 5 17-14 217 $828.00 Day 1: 5 17-14 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00 30. Jeff Cloud Lubbock, Texas 6 16-06 215 $789.00 Day 1: 3 8-08 Day 2: 3 7-14 Day 3: 0 0-00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 29 289 704-11 2 22 283 590-06 3 15 105 263-01 ---------------------------------- 66 677 1558-02 FINAL STANDINGS BASS PRO SHOPS BASSMASTER SOUTHERN OPEN- LAKE SEMINOLE- CO-ANGLER (NON-BOATER) Standings Day 3 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Fred Hood Monroe, Ga. 6 20-11 315 $34,000.00 Day 1: 3 14-10 Day 2: 2 3-06 Day 3: 1 2-11 2. Steven Wells Bainbridge, Ga. 5 17-03 295 $3,943.00 Day 1: 1 6-12 Day 2: 2 6-07 Day 3: 2 4-00 3. Aaron Gengler Lakeland, Fla. 4 16-10 290 $3,154.00 Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 2 9-12 Day 3: 2 6-14 4. Jesse Windsor Orlando, Fla. 7 16-07 285 $2,366.00 Day 1: 3 6-08 Day 2: 2 5-06 Day 3: 2 4-09 5. Michael Krueger Niceville, Fla. 5 16-07 280 $1,971.00 Day 1: 1 6-08 Day 2: 3 5-15 Day 3: 1 4-00 6. Kevin Topper Woodstock, Ga. 5 15-14 276 $1,774.00 Day 1: 2 6-06 Day 2: 1 3-05 Day 3: 2 6-03 7. Rob Newell Tallahassee, Fla. 6 14-04 272 $1,577.00 Day 1: 1 3-15 Day 2: 3 6-05 Day 3: 2 4-00 8. Bernie Pepin Alto, Mich. 4 14-04 268 $1,498.00 Day 1: 1 1-08 Day 2: 2 7-05 Day 3: 1 5-07 9. David Willis Phenix City, Ala. 4 11-09 264 $1,341.00 Day 1: 1 1-15 Day 2: 2 8-10 Day 3: 1 1-00 10. Jim Barnette Decatur, Ala. 7 11-07 260 $1,025.00 Day 1: 1 2-05 Day 2: 3 3-11 Day 3: 3 5-07 11. Mark Henley Thomasville, Ga. 8 11-04 257 $867.00 Day 1: 2 4-12 Day 2: 3 2-09 Day 3: 3 3-15 12. Trathen Dollar West Jefferson, N.C. 4 11-01 254 $789.00 Day 1: 3 9-07 Day 2: 1 1-10 Day 3: 0 0-00 13. Randy Hill Jonesboro, Ga. 5 11-00 251 $710.00 Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 7-05 Day 3: 2 3-11 14. Robbie Anderson Crystal River, Fla. 6 10-08 248 $631.00 Day 1: 1 1-01 Day 2: 3 6-03 Day 3: 2 3-04 15. Bradley Dortch Kissimmee, Fla. 5 10-03 245 $552.00 Day 1: 1 3-05 Day 2: 2 3-00 Day 3: 2 3-14 16. Leonard Askew Leesburg, Ga. 5 9-12 243 $532.00 Day 1: 1 3-01 Day 2: 3 5-04 Day 3: 1 1-07 17. Marcus Parker Jacksonville, Fla. 5 9-10 241 $513.00 Day 1: 3 4-04 Day 2: 2 5-06 Day 3: 0 0-00 18. John Hendry Lakeland, Fla. 4 9-09 239 $493.00 Day 1: 2 2-12 Day 2: 1 4-00 Day 3: 1 2-13 19. Blake Lewis Lakeland, Ga. 4 9-05 237 $473.00 Day 1: 1 2-04 Day 2: 3 7-01 Day 3: 0 0-00 20. John Avalos Saint Petersburg, Fla. 5 8-12 235 $453.00 Day 1: 1 1-01 Day 2: 3 5-11 Day 3: 1 2-00 21. Adam Hock Vincennes, Ind. 5 8-08 233 $434.00 Day 1: 2 3-03 Day 2: 1 3-02 Day 3: 2 2-03 22. Steven Schmidt Madison, Neb. 3 8-06 231 $394.00 Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 8-06 Day 3: 0 0-00 23. Ben Fitzgerald Ocala, Fla. 1 7-08 229 $375.00 Day 1: 1 7-08 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00 24. Frank Jones Land O Lakes, Fla. 3 7-04 227 $355.00 Day 1: 1 1-07 Day 2: 2 5-13 Day 3: 0 0-00 25. Ike Gray Kissimmee, Fla. 4 7-02 225 $335.00 Day 1: 3 5-02 Day 2: 1 2-00 Day 3: 0 0-00 26. John White Armuchee, Ga. 4 7-01 223 $315.00 Day 1: 1 3-04 Day 2: 3 3-13 Day 3: 0 0-00 27. Edward Fye Marietta, Ga. 3 7-00 221 $296.00 Day 1: 3 7-00 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00 28. Doug Conklin Harmony, Fla. 3 6-13 219 $276.00 Day 1: 2 5-15 Day 2: 1 0-14 Day 3: 0 0-00 29. Fred Rigdon Belleview, Fla. 2 6-12 217 $256.00 Day 1: 1 3-07 Day 2: 1 3-05 Day 3: 0 0-00 30. Miriam Donohoo San Mateo, Fla. 1 6-01 215 $237.00 Day 1: 1 6-01 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 0 104 231-01 2 0 114 227-11 3 0 31 67-06 ---------------------------------- 0 249 526-02 BASS PRO SHOPS SOUTHERN BASSMASTER OPEN POINTS STANDINGS- FINAL- PRO Boater Points After Lake Seminole, Bainridge, Ga. Ending 10-09-2010, Day 3 ------------------------------------------- Place Name St Pts ------------------------------------------- 1 Randall Tharp Ala. 818 2 Andy Montgomery S.C. 807 3 Terry Scroggins Fla. 749 4 David Kilgore Ala. 744 5 Bobby Lane Fla. 743 6 Jason Knapp Pa. 734 6 Ott Defoe Tenn. 734 8 Trevor Fitzgerald Fla. 719 9 J T Kenney Fla. 706 10 Derek Remitz Ala. 697 11 Davy Hite S.C. 684 12 Jonathon Vandam Mich. 666 13 Eric Nethery Ga. 659 14 Andy Chappell Ala. 657 15 Michael Bennett Fla. 626 16 Chris Lane Ala. 616 17 Todd Auten S.C. 611 17 Luke Gritter Mich. 611 19 Koby Kreiger Fla. 593 20 Kyle Fox Fla. 585 20 Harry Moore Ala. 585 22 Mark Shepard Fla. 575 23 David Walker Tenn. 565 24 Cliff Prince Fla. 563 25 Patrick Pierce Fla. 541 26 Adam Brown Ala. 538 27 John Brazzell Fla. 534 28 Allan Glasgow Ala. 529 29 Greg Vinson Ala. 527 30 Brett Mitchell S.C. 522 31 J Todd Tucker Ga. 519 32 Ron Wolfarth N.C. 513 32 Terry Segraves Fla. 513 34 George Crain Ala. 509 35 Keith Poche Ala. 507 36 Darrell Davis Fla. 503 37 Matt Peters Ga. 501 37 Scott Canterbury Ala. 501 37 Justin Hamner Ala. 501 40 Derek Allen La. 477 41 Jimmy Mason Ala. 475 42 Ben Quisno Ohio 468 43 Larry Cahan Fla. 454 44 Brad Staley N.C. 431 45 Arnie Lane Fla. 429 46 Kyle Kempkers Mich. 419 47 Lee Boutwell Ga. 413 48 Jason Williamson S.C. 403 48 Greg Pugh Ala. 403 50 Frank Jordan JR Ga. 401 51 Mark Peiser Ind. 397 52 Heath Smith Ala. 396 53 Gary Clouse Tenn. 391 54 Brandon Coulter Tenn. 384 55 Sandy Melvin Fla. 383 56 Michael Reid Ga. 380 57 Russ Lane Ala. 379 58 Tom Hamlin Ga. 378 59 Aaron Martens Ala. 372 60 Keith Pace Ark. 364 61 Chris Payne Ala. 363 62 Hojin Chang Fla. 358 63 Andre Moore Ala. 356 64 Jimmie Murphy Fla. 353 64 Rich Patterson Fla. 353 66 Randy Elliott Md. 352 67 Jeff Cloud Texas 351 68 Lon Fleming S.C. 347 69 Scott Mcgehee Miss. 343 70 Paul Pagnato Va. 342 71 Lynn Oswalt Ala. 330 72 Chad Prough Fla. 325 72 Michael Willis Ga. 325 74 Pam Martin-Wells Ga. 323 75 Brad Pegram N.C. 322 76 James Tunder Ohio 317 77 Tom Frink Ga. 314 78 Gerald Swindle Ala. 305 79 Clark Smith Ala. 304 79 Mark Stewart Ala. 304 81 Brian Morris Ala. 290 81 Clint Brown Ga. 290 83 Shinichi Fukae Texas 288 84 Foster Bradley Ala. 285 85 Mark McCaig Ala. 280 86 Stanley Gunter S.C. 278 87 Joe Clements Fla. 276 88 Ben Todd Fla. 272 89 Chad Morgenthaler Ill. 270 89 Jim Turner Ind. 270 91 Jeffrey Prisza Mich. 269 92 JT Palmore Va. 268 93 Scott Martin Fla. 266 94 Jim Murray Ga. 260 94 Bryan Watts Fla. 260 96 Bradley Enfinger Ga. 258 97 Chris Barnett Tenn. 257 98 Sean Skey S.C. 256 99 Horace Hubbard Ga. 254 100 Scott Kerslake N.C. 252 101 Ray Brazier Tenn. 250 101 Jimmy Mize Ark. 250 103 Tony Chachere La. 248 104 Tony Sapp Ga. 247 105 Mark Meyer Ala. 243 106 Scott Wiley Ala. 242 107 Bobby Smith Fla. 235 107 Danny White Ga. 235 109 Allen Duke Fla. 229 110 Chris Neely Fla. 228 111 Stephen Johnston Texas 227 111 Tim Ezell Fla. 227 113 Jeremy Prouty Fla. 226 114 David Kelly S.C. 223 114 Jelani Hennessey Va. 223 116 Shawn Strader Tenn. 221 117 Bob Morin Tenn. 219 117 Alan Rae S.C. 219 119 Craig Taylor Fla. 217 120 Steve Fairtrace Fla. 215 121 Ron Klys Fla. 213 122 Michael Johnson Ga. 211 122 Dwayne Reine S.C. 211 122 David Burch Fla. 211 125 Sumiyuki Takano Fla. 209 126 Jeff Campbell Ohio 207 126 Justin Schwier Fla. 207 128 John Johnson S.C. 203 128 Blaine Shelton Ala. 203 130 Robert Comalander Ala. 202 131 Johnny Patterson Ala. 200 132 Bink Desaro Nev. 197 133 Josh Guess Fla. 193 133 Chad Durden Ala. 193 135 Carroll Blevins Ga. 185 136 Craig Daniel Ala. 181 137 Steve Daniel Fla. 175 138 James Anderson Fla. 169 139 Derek Jones Ill. 167 139 Tom Spangler Tenn. 167 139 Kyle Walling Ky. 167 142 Bernie Schultz Fla. 157 142 Spencer Lynn Ala. 157 144 Ken Callahan Ala. 153 145 Robert Miley Fla. 148 146 David Cooke N.C. 147 147 Cecil Douberly Fla. 146 147 Loran Cogburn Fla. 146 147 Larry Rollings S.C. 146 150 Wayne Clifton S.C. 143 151 Kevin Pulsifer Ala. 139 152 Charlie Hill Ky. 137 152 Jimmy Kennedy Vt. 137 154 Jim Hardy Ala. 132 155 Robin Erb Ala. 127 156 Jimmy Hayes N.C. 124 157 Rex Chambers Ala. 123 158 Trevor Knight Del. 118 159 Byron Haseotes Mass. 117 160 Luke Clausen Ga. 115 161 Wade Leblanc La. 113 162 Jerry Gore Fla. 111 163 Ben Carroll Fla. 109 164 Charlie Ingram Tenn. 107 165 Greg Watts Fla. 105 166 Michael Conley Ga. 103 167 Billy Mcdonald Ind. 102 168 Wayne Prater Tenn. 101 168 Fred Chivington Fla. 101 168 Ronald Ryals Fla. 101 171 Brian Rufty Ky. 99 172 Bobby Purvis S.C. 97 173 Paul Kimball Conn. 96 174 Garry Rogers N.C. 95 175 Wil Hardy Ga. 87 176 Curtis Lewis Fla. 83 177 Luke Estel Ill. 79 177 Kelly Jaye Ala. 79 179 Jason Lieblong Ark. 76 180 Tyrone Cypress Fla. 71 180 Brian Kanke Texas 71 182 Dane Odom S.C. 70 182 Michael Downes Va. 70 184 Paul Tyre Fla. 69 185 Brent Crow Ala. 68 186 Jeff Shelton Ala. 66 186 Robbie Latuso La. 66 186 Steven George Fla. 66 189 Bruce Griffin Ala. 65 190 Jack Mumbower Ind. 63 190 Raymond Trudeau Fla. 63 192 Harry Potts Ala. 62 193 Landon Lomax Ala. 60 194 Marcos Malucelli S.C. 58 195 Bob Eagleston Fla. 55 196 Blake Foret La. 52 197 Frank Ippoliti Pa. 50 198 John Emery Tenn. 47 198 Michael Prindle Ga. 47 200 Steven Wisdom Ala. 44 201 Charles Graybeal Tenn. 43 202 Charlie Hartley Ohio 35 203 Bruce Bingenheimer N.Y. 31 203 Anthony Dumitras Ga. 31 205 Lindsey Page Fla. 30 206 Chris Anderson S.C. 29 207 Chuck Thurlow Ala. 26 208 Ronnie Getz Ind. 25 209 Bill Hutchison Ala. 21 210 Felton Jackson N.C. 18 211 Jeremy York Ga. 15 212 Brian Hatfield Ky. 12 213 Jeff Stoner Pa. 0 213 John Bitter Fla. 0 213 Matt Hupp Texas 0 213 Shane Cole Ala. 0 213 Nick Mumbower Ind. 0 213 John Cromwell Tenn. 0 213 Kim Bain-Moore Ala. 0 213 Tony Haymon Fla. 0 213 Jack MacKenney Fla. 0 213 Michael Randolph Texas 0 213 Lee Sisson Fla. 0 213 Teb Jones Miss. 0 213 Nate Wellman Mich. 0 213 Sammy Burks Mo. 0 213 Bob Bennett S.C. 0 213 Richard Stevens Ill. 0 213 Curtis Reeves Ga. 0 213 James Butler Tenn. 0