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Kansas' Chapman Wins Inaugural
Cabela's Top Gun Championship
- Beats Japan's Namiki By Less Than a Pound -
August 14, 2005 - FT. WORTH, Texas -- Kansas'
Brent Chapman won his first major title in bass fishing today
by winning the inaugural Cabela's Top Gun Championship. Held
here on Eagle Mountain Lake, the tournament fielded the top 25
professional bass fishermen in the world according to the State
Farm World Rankings.
Today was the final day of competition, and with
the day's cloudy weather the event became a big-weight shootout.
Japan's Toshinari Namiki had the heaviest five-fish limit of
the day (12.31 pounds), but his total three-day weight of 34.29
pounds wasn't enough to beat Chapman.
Chapman's 11.09-pound limit today gave him 34.96
pounds, good enough for his first major win and a $100,000 check
from Cabela's and Skeeter Boats. A Skeeter pro, he won by fishing
docks with a Terminator Pro's Top Secret Jig with a sapphire
blue Zoom chunk. He tied a custom skirt on the jig to match the
bright sapphire blue color.
"This is awesome," Chapman said, who
came into this tournament ranked 9th in the world. "I'm
just relieved. I finally won a big tournament.
"I was little nervous for a spell, but decided
I couldn't worry -- I couldn't get too caught up in it. Then
I was nervous when I saw what Toshi (Namiki) weighed. When he
weighed in, and I saw his total weight, I thought it would be
within ounces. I didn't know if I had it or not."
Namiki said, "I'm a little disappointed because
of the money, but I'm not disappointed for how I did in this
tournament. I had a really great time. These were great people
-- Texas people, BassFan people, Cabela's, and also the other
contenders."
The rest of the Top 5 included George Cochran (third
with 32.57 pounds), Dean Rojas (fourth with 32.52 pounds) and
Alabama's Matt Herren with 30.80 pounds.
All were disappointed they didn't win, but especially
Rojas, who thought he had a great shot. "I feel terrible,"
he said when he got off the water. "I just lost $100,000
and I know it. But I did the best I could today. I have no regrets.
I went for it."
Tonight also marked the final event of the 2005
professional bass fishing season. And the angler who is ranked
No. 1 in the world now that it's all over for the year is Greg
Hackney, the Louisiana phenom who has taken the professional
bass fishing world by storm the last few years.
Hackney is the No. 1 angler in the State Farm World
Rankings after the 2005 season, and tonight at the Cabela's Top
Gun Championship was awarded the State Farm No. 1 in the world
trophy and $7,500 State Farm No. 1 Bonus. He received a standing
ovation from his fellow competitors and the crowd.
About the event:
The Cabela's Top Gun Championship takes the 25
top-ranked professional bass fishermen in the world, regardless
of which tour or tours they fish, and puts them on the same body
of water. The anglers are the best in the world according to
the State Farm World Rankings, which rankings anglers who fish
either or both of the pro fishing tours: the Bassmaster Tour
and the FLW Tour.
The event is title-sponsored by outdoor outfitter
Cabela's (www.cabelas.com), and is presented by Skeeter Boats
(www.skeeterboats.com), the Outdoor Life Network (www.olntv.com)
and BassFan (www.bassfan.com). Supporting sponsors include State
Farm Insurance (www.statefarm.com), Mann's HardNose Baits (www.mannsbait.com),
Bagley Bait Co. (www.bagleybait.com), Lowrance Electronics (www.lowrance.com),
Oakley sunglasses (www.oakley.com) and Tru-Tungsten (www.tru-tungsten.com).
Television coverage:
The Cabela's Top Gun Championship telecast will
air Saturday, Sept. 24 at 10:00 a.m. EST on the Outdoor Life
Network. Additional coverage of the event will appear on FOX
Sports and OLN (Americana Outdoors and Fishing and Hunting Texas).
Full 24/7 coverage is on BassFan.com.
Day 3 (Final) Standings
(Place, Angler, Hometown, Tour(s) Fished, Day 1
Weight, Day 2 Weight, Day 3 Weight, Total Weight)
1. Brent Chapman -- Shawnee, KS -- BASS/FLW
-- 5, 11.62 -- 5, 12.25 -- 5, 11.09 -- 15, 34.96 -- $104,000
2. Toshinari Namiki -- Hachioji City, Japan --
FLW -- 5, 14.42 -- 2, 7.56 -- 5, 12.31 -- 12, 34.29 -- $7,000
3. George Cochran -- Hot Springs, AR -- BASS/FLW
-- 5, 10.47 -- 5, 11.21 -- 5, 10.89 -- 15, 32.57 -- $4,000
4. Dean Rojas -- Grand Saline, TX -- BASS/FLW --
5, 11.79 -- 5, 11.95 -- 3, 8.78 -- 13, 32.52 -- $4,000
5. Matthew Herren -- Clay, AL -- FLW -- 5, 8.93
-- 5, 10.08 -- 5, 11.79 -- 15, 30.80 -- $4,000
6. Edwin Evers -- Mannsville, OK -- BASS -- 4,
9.42 -- 5, 10.90 -- 4, 9.31 -- 13, 29.63 -- $4,000
7. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, TX -- BASS/FLW -- 5,
12.06 -- 3, 4.49 -- 5, 11.57 -- 13, 28.12 -- $4,000
8. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Springs, MO -- BASS --
5, 8.99 -- 5, 9.23 -- 4, 8.67 -- 14, 26.89 -- $4,000
9. Gerald Swindle -- Hayden, AL -- BASS -- 3, 5.39
-- 2, 5.03 -- 5, 13.73 -- 10, 24.15 -- $5,500
10. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- BASS/FLW --
5, 13.89 -- 0, 0.00 -- 5, 9.61 -- 10, 23.50 -- $4,000
11. Terry Scroggins -- Palatka, FL -- BASS -- 3,
5.39 -- 5, 10.10 -- 3, 6.76 -- 11, 22.25 -- $4,000
12. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, CA -- BASS -- 4, 6.09
-- 5, 8.54 -- 3, 4.96 -- 12, 19.59 -- $4,000
13. David Walker -- Sevierville, TN -- BASS/FLW
-- 4, 7.64 -- 2, 2.63 -- 3, 8.57 -- 9, 18.84 -- $4,000
14. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, AR -- BASS -- 2,
4.13 -- 3, 4.79 -- 5, 8.94 -- 10, 17.86 -- $4,000
15. Marty Stone -- Linden, NC -- BASS -- 0, 0.00
-- 5, 10.43 -- 3, 6.27 -- 8, 17.20 -- $4,000
16. Tim Horton -- Muscle Shoals, AL -- BASS --
2, 4.82 -- 2, 2.94 -- 4, 9.43 -- 8, 17.19 -- $4,000
17. Michael Iaconelli -- Voorhees, NJ -- BASS/FLW
-- 5, 9.62 -- 1, 1.38 -- 3, 5.20 -- 9, 16.20 -- $4,000
18. Mark Tucker -- Kirkwood, MO -- BASS -- 3, 5.85
-- 3, 5.24 -- 3, 4.94 -- 9, 16.03 -- $4,000
19. Kevin Wirth -- Crestwood, KY -- BASS -- 4,
6.20 -- 3, 5.81 -- 2, 3.65 -- 9, 15.66 -- $4,000
20. Dave Lefebre -- Union City, PA -- FLW -- 5,
8.74 -- 2, 3.46 -- 2, 3.26 -- 9, 15.46 -- $4,000
21. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, OK -- BASS -- 1, 2.64
-- 2, 3.39 -- 5, 9.04 -- 8, 15.07 -- $4,000
22. Ron Shuffield -- Bismarck, AR -- BASS -- 5,
9.35 -- 1, 3.21 -- 1, 2.05 -- 7, 14.61 -- $4,000
23. Anthony Gagliardi -- Prosperity, SC -- FLW
-- 5, 9.21 -- 1, 1.68 -- 1, 1.37 -- 7, 12.26 -- $4,000
24. Scott Suggs -- Alexander, AR -- BASS/FLW --
0, 0.00 -- 1, 2.67 -- 3, 5.94 -- 4, 8.61 -- $4,000
25. Stacey King -- Reeds Spring, MO -- BASS --
0.00 (disqualified before event began)
Tru-Tungsten Big Bass Award
> Day 3: Gerald Swindle -- Hayden, AL -- BASS
-- 5.73 -- $1,500
> Day 2: Toshinari Namiki -- Hachioji City,
Japan -- FLW -- 5.42 -- $1,500
> Day 1: Toshinari Namiki -- Hachioji City,
Japan -- FLW -- 5.52 -- $1,500
Chapman Takes Over Lead
But Eight Anglers Could Win
- Tight Finish At Cabela's Top Gun Championship -
August 13, 2005 - FT. WORTH, Texas -- After
the second of three days of competition, Kansas' Brent Chapman,
the 9th-ranked pro bass angler in the world, leads the Cabela's
Top Gun Championship being held here on Eagle Mountain Lake.
But his lead is extremely slim. Chapman has 23.87 pounds, but
Dean Rojas is about a fin's worth of weight behind with 23.74
pounds.
And by no means is it a two-man tournament. Any
one of the top eight anglers can still win. Japan's Toshinari
Namiki led yesterday and had just two fish today, but one was
a 5.42-pounder. That was good enough to win the $1,500 Tru-Tungsten
big bass award for the second day in a row, and it also helped
him stay in contention. He is in 3rd place with 21.98 pounds.
Fifty-five-year-old George Cochran, who earned
$500,000 this year for winning the FLW Tour Forrest L. Wood Championship
and then finished 4th at the recent Bassmaster Classic, is 4th
with 21.68 pounds. And Edwin Evers is in 5th with 20.32 pounds.
The other anglers who could pull out a win tomorrow
are Alabama's Matt Herren (6th), Missouri's Brian Snowden (7th)
and 2004 Bassmaster Classic winner Takahiro Omori (8th).
"It's awesome," Chapman said about leading
going into the final day. "That means everybody behind you
has to catch a fish tomorrow." Asked whether he feels any
pressure, he said: "I'm going to go fishing tomorrow and
worry about the fish, not about the fishermen.
Rojas said, "I've been in this position quite
often the last few years, and I love it -- being right there
in position to win. I'm fishing well, I've been getting a lot
of bites every day and they're good ones. I look forward to tomorrow."
Namiki feels "very relaxed" being in
3rd even though he only caught two fish today. "I still
have a chance to win because I have (the day's) big fish, and
nobody knows how many big fish we can have. If I could have two
fish like (today's 5-pounder), I might win with only two fish."
Cochran likewise likes his chances. "I'm only
2 pounds out of the lead, and it's very possible to catch 15
to 18 pounds here. And the way I'm fishing, I have a possibility
of catching a big string."
Evers feels "really good" about being
in 5th, 3 1/2 pounds out of the lead. "Being in contention
to win going into the last day is all anyone ever asks for,"
he said. "I'm just one 4-pound bite away from winning this
thing. I just need to catch five fish. This is an endurance race.
You have to catch five every day to have an opportunity to win."
Because of the innovative weigh-in, tomorrow the
anglers will not know their weights until the weigh-in show at
the Cabela's in Ft. Worth (12901 Cabela Drive,
Ft. Worth, TX 76177, 817-337-2400). The final-day
Cabela's weigh-in show begins at 5:30 p.m. CST tomorrow, Sunday,
Aug. 14. But fishing fans should allow more time for autographs,
and for shopping the boat and tackle show, and the massive Cabela's
store.
This is a winner-take-all event. The anglers all
get a $4,000 appearance fee, but only the winner -- who only
has to beat 23 fishermen to win (one angler was disqualified
for a rules violation before the tournament began) -- will get
the $100,000 cash 1st-place prize.
Day 2 Standings
(Place, Angler, Hometown, Tour(s) Fished, Day 1
Weight, Day 2 Weight, Total Weight)
1. Brent Chapman -- Shawnee, KS -- BASS/FLW
-- 5, 11.62 -- 5, 12.25 -- 9, 23.87
2. Dean Rojas -- Grand Saline, TX -- BASS/FLW --
5, 11.79 -- 5, 11.95 -- 10, 23.74
3. Toshinari Namiki -- Hachioji City, Japan --
FLW -- 5, 14.42 -- 2, 7.56 -- 7, 21.98
4. George Cochran -- Hot Springs, AR -- BASS/FLW
-- 5, 10.47 -- 5, 11.21 -- 10, 21.68
5. Edwin Evers -- Mannsville, OK -- BASS -- 4,
9.42 -- 5, 10.90 -- 9, 20.32
6. Matthew Herren -- Clay, AL -- FLW -- 5, 8.93
-- 5, 10.08 -- 10, 19.01
7. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Springs, MO -- BASS --
5, 8.99 -- 5, 9.23 -- 10, 18.22
8. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, TX -- BASS/FLW -- 5,
12.06 -- 3, 4.49 -- 8, 16.55
9. Terry Scroggins -- Palatka, FL -- BASS -- 3,
5.39 -- 5, 10.10 -- 8, 15.49
10. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, CA -- BASS -- 4, 6.09
-- 5, 8.54 -- 9, 14.63
11. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- BASS/FLW --
5, 13.89 -- 0, 0.00 -- 5, 13.89
12. Ron Shuffield -- Bismarck, AR -- BASS -- 5,
9.35 -- 1, 3.21 -- 6, 12.56
13. Dave Lefebre -- Union City, PA -- FLW -- 5,
8.74 -- 2, 3.46 -- 7, 12.20
14. Kevin Wirth -- Crestwood, KY -- BASS -- 4,
6.20 -- 3, 5.81 -- 7, 12.01
15. Mark Tucker -- Kirkwood, MO -- BASS -- 3, 5.85
-- 3, 5.24 -- 6, 11.09
16. Michael Iaconelli -- Voorhees, NJ -- BASS/FLW
-- 5, 9.62 -- 1, 1.38 -- 6, 11.00
17. Anthony Gagliardi -- Prosperity, SC -- FLW
-- 5, 9.21 -- 1, 1.68 -- 6, 10.89
18. Marty Stone -- Linden, NC -- BASS -- 0, 0.00
-- 5, 10.93 -- 5, 10.43
19. Gerald Swindle -- Hayden, AL -- BASS -- 3,
5.39 -- 2, 5.03 -- 5, 10.42
20. David Walker -- Sevierville, TN -- BASS/FLW
-- 4, 7.64 -- 2, 2.63 -- 6, 10.27
21. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, AR -- BASS -- 2,
4.13 -- 3, 4.79 -- 5, 8.92
22. Tim Horton -- Muscle Shoals, AL -- BASS --
2, 4.82 -- 2, 2.94 -- 4, 7.76
23. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, OK -- BASS -- 1, 2.64
-- 2, 3.39 -- 3, 6.03
24. Scott Suggs -- Alexander, AR -- BASS/FLW --
0, 0.00 -- 1, 2.67 -- 1, 2.67
Tru-Tungsten Big Bass Award
> Day 2: Toshinari Namiki -- Hachioji City,
Japan -- 5.42 -- $1,500
> Day 1: Toshinari Namiki -- Hachioji City,
Japan -- 5.52 -- $1,500
Japan's Namiki Leads Day 1 Of
Cabela's Top Gun Championship
- No. 1-Ranked Hackney In 2nd -
August 12, 2005 - FT. WORTH, Texas -- Japan's
Toshinari Namiki leads day 1 of the Cabela's Top Gun Championship
on Eagle Mountain Lake here in Ft. Worth. His five-fish limit
weighed 14.42 pounds, but he doesn't have a solid lead. Greg
Hackney, No. 1 in the world, is only half a pound ounces behind
in 2nd place with a 13.89 limit.
Takahiro Omori is in 3rd with a limit weighing
12.06, Dean Rojas is in 4th with a 11.79 limit and Kansas' Brent
Chapman is in 5th with an 11.62 limit.
The inaugural Cabela's Top Gun Championship takes
the Top 25 bass anglers in the world and puts them on the same
body of water. The anglers are the best in the world according
to the State Farm World Rankings, which rankings anglers who
fish either or both of the pro fishing tours: the Bassmaster
Tour and the FLW Tour.
Dawn was cloudy today on Eagle Mountain Lake, and
much of the exclusive 24-man field (one angler was disqualified
before the event began) found the early bite tough. That might
be because most of them are fishing docks, and cloudy weather
usually causes the bass to disperse and get tougher to target.
Even though Namiki leads, he doesn't have a lot
of confidence. "I hit many (areas of) water today, but couldn't
catch fish in concentrated spots. It was one here, one there,
all day. I have to do some learning tomorrow."
Hackney had the second-heaviest limit of the day
and caught 15 keepers, but called his day "so-so. I caught
a bunch of fish, but I never had a big (fish) opportunity. I
was real confident I might catch about a 6-pounder." Big
fish aside, he thinks being consistent will win the tournament.
Omori only caught five keepers today, and said
he expects the fishing to get tougher tomorrow. But that's not
because of weekend pleasure boat traffic. "Everybody's fishing
the same stuff, so it'll probably get tougher every day. So I'm
real happy with what I have today."
Rojas is virtually mum, and that means he's on
fish. "Basically what worked today was what I had going
in practice," he said. "It's going like clockwork right
now."
Chapman had a better day than he thought. "I
thought it would be a little tougher. I think the wind and clouds
made it better. But even if it gets sunny and hot with no wind,
I think the fish will still bite pretty good." He's concentrating
on a big-fish bite.
With the quality of fish in the lake, literally
no one is out of the running yet since all anglers fish all 3
days. As Gerald Swindle said, "I still think this tournament
can be won in one day. This lake has that potential, if you can
just get it figured out that one day."
Day 1 Standings
1. Toshinari Namiki -- Hachioji City, Japan --
5, 14.42
2. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 5, 13.89
3. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, TX -- 5, 12.06
4. Dean Rojas -- Grand Saline, TX -- 5, 11.79
5. Brent Chapman -- Shawnee, KS -- 5, 11.62
6. George Cochran -- Hot Springs, AR -- 5, 10.47
7. Michael Iaconelli -- Voorhees, NJ -- 5, 9.62
8. Edwin Evers -- Mannsville, OK -- 4, 9.42
9. Ron Shuffield -- Bismarck, AR -- 5, 9.35
10. Anthony Gagliardi -- Prosperity, SC -- 5, 9.21
11. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Springs, MO -- 5, 8.99
12. Matthew Herren -- Clay, AL -- 5, 8.93
13. Dave Lefebre -- Union City, PA -- 5, 8.74
14. David Walker -- Sevierville, TN -- 4, 7.64
15. Kevin Wirth -- Crestwood, KY -- 4, 6.20
16. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, CA -- 4, 6.09
17. Mark Tucker -- Kirkwood, MO -- 3, 5.85
18. Gerald Swindle -- Hayden, AL -- 3, 5.39
19. Terry Scroggins -- Palatka, FL -- 3, 5.39
20. Tim Horton -- Muscle Shoals, AL -- 2, 4.82
21. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, AR -- 2, 4.13
22. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, OK -- 1, 2.64
23. Scott Suggs -- Alexander, AR -- 0, 0.00
24. Marty Stone -- Linden, NC -- 0, 0.00
Tru-Tungsten Big Bass Award
> Day 1: Toshinari Namiki -- Hachioji City,
Japan -- 5.52 -- $1,500
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